DUSHANBE, November 13, 2014, Asia-Plus – An article “Tajik Mullahs Raise Funds for Ruling Party HQ,” posted on Radio Liberty’s website on November 12 notes, that mosques and mullahs in southern Tajikistan are either in a charitable mood, trying to get on the president”s good side, or both.
In recent weeks, they have reportedly collected nearly $13,500 for the construction of a new local headquarters for President Emomali Rahmon”s People”s Democratic Party in Khatlon”s Qumsangir district.
Mullahs in Qumsangir say they are not acting on the orders imposed by state authorities. They reportedly insist that the decision to build the headquarters came at their own initiative — despite the fact that none belong to the ruling party — and describe it as a voluntary “charitable act.”
“There wasn”t any instruction, any pressure forcing us to pay,” says village mullah Imomnazar Jannatov, who has contributed a sizeable amount from his family farm”s earnings.
Qumsangir head Kholmurod Rahmon paid tribute to the religious leaders” generosity, while boasting about his own “creativity” in finding ways to collect funds from citizens in order to fund state-development projects.
Jaloliddin Kamolov, the district head of the state”s Religious Affairs Department says there are 27 mosques and some 100 well-to-do religious figures in the area who can afford to contribute to local projects.
He lists the construction of small medical facilities in villages or road repair works as areas where they can help.
Dushanbe-based journalist Dabeeri Kabir, who covers religious issues in Tajikistan, says he wouldn”t rule out that the mullahs were indeed acting on their own initiative by raising funds for the local People”s Democratic Party headquarters. But he also ties it to their efforts to maintain a good relationship with the authorities.
