DUSHANBE, February 11, 2011, Asia-Plus — Increase in extremist manifestations in the country was one of major topics of the February 10 meeting of the Security Council, presided over by President Emomali Rahmon.
According to the presidential press service, Emomali Rahmon drew attention of those present to increasing manifestations of religious extremism in separate regions of the country, in particular in Rasht Valley, Sughd province and some districts of Khatlon province, as well as Dushanbe and Roudaki, Vahdat and Hissar districts.
The main goal of religious extremists receiving financial support from abroad is the violent overthrow of the constitutional order in the country, the president noted.
Under the pretext of teaching principles of Islam, criminals are recruiting teenagers and young people and then sending them to illegal religious schools in Islamic nations. After brainwashing, extremists use these young people for their dirty plans, Rahmon stressed.
The head of state called on the State Committee on National Security (SCNS) and the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) to carry out explanatory work among the population.
He also expressed concern that some districts now have more mosques than secondary schools. “At present there are 1,250 illegal mosques across the country that function without state registration, though all mosques were to be registered until the beginning of this year,” the head of state said.
Rahmon noted that dozens of illegal religious schools had been revealed in some districts and cities of the country, particularly in Khatlon province and Dushanbe.
He reminded once again that mosques were places of worship and praying. “However, some mosques have turned into tribune for dissemination of extremist ideology and place for recruitment of youth into extremist organizations,” stressed President Rahmon, “There ought not to forget that the Rasht events began from such mosques.”
1,558 Tajik students have returned from foreign religious schools to date. “Work in this direction is not carried out properly and according to information received, 2,138 other Tajik students are still studying in foreign madrasahs,” Rahmon said.
The meeting participants also discussed the current social and political situation in the country as well as efforts to combat organized and drug trafficking.
