DUSHANBE, October 10, 2012, Asia-Plus – A delegation of Tajik clerics, led by Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda, Head of Tajikistan’s Council of Ulamo (a group of scholars and imams that provides interpretations of religious practice), is currently in the Russian Federation to hold meetings with Tajik labor migrants working there.
“The visit will last until October 17 and during their stay in Russia, Tajik clerics will visit Moscow, Ufa and Kazan,” an official source at the Council of Ulamo told Asia-Plus in an interview.
The main purpose of the visit is for the delegation to study problems facing Tajik labor migrants in Russia, especially the spiritual situation, the source added.
The struggle between Tajik political forces for influences on Tajik labor migrants working in the Russian Federation has been intensifying.
According to some sources, an estimated more than one million Tajik seasonal workers are currently working in the Russian Federation.
Last month, prominent Tajik religious figure, Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda and his brothers were in Russia. According to him, they traveled to the Russian Federation on invitation of a number of Russian public associations.
“Up to 10,000 people attended our meetings every day and we talked to them only on religious subjects,” said Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda. “We also called on our fellow countrymen to observe Russia’s laws, study Russian culture and language.”
The Islamic Revival Party (IRP) was the first among the Tajik political forces to begin struggle for votes of Tajik labor migrants in the upcoming presidential election that will take place in Tajikistan in 2013.
Activists of the ruling People’s Democratic Party followed their example and visited the Russian Federation from August 29 to September 8. the PDP activists met with Tajik labor migrants working in Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk and Novosibirsk regions.
