KULOB, February 2, 2011, Asia-Plus — To-date, 40 of 51 residents of Khatlon’s Vose district have returned from foreign religious school, Rustamkhon Boboyev, an official with the Vose district administration, told Asia-Plus today.
According to him, four of them have entered Tajik Islamic Institute and four others plan to enter this institute in the autumn.
“There are two teenagers under the age of 18 among the students that returned,” said Boboyev, “They are currently 11th grade students at school # 17 in the Guliston jamoat.”
He noted that 15 residents of the Guliston jamoat had traveled to Muslim nations to study in religious schools there. Eight of them have not yet returned.
“Four of five residents of Tugarak jamoat have returned,” said the Vose official, “As far as young woman from this jamoat is concerned, we have received information that she got married there and is not going to return.”
Tajik officials are taking measures to return home all Tajik students studying in unofficial foreign religious schools following official concerns about their radicalization abroad. The return of the Tajik students from Muslim countries began in August-September last year after President Emomali Rahmon said students at illegal Islamic schools too often “fall under the influence of extremists.” Rahmon advised parents to bring their children back to Tajikistan.
