By order issued by the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan all imam-khatibs (the leader of prayers in the mosque) who studied in foreign religious schools illegally will be dismissed. CRA has given fifteen days for this. Meanwhile, the head of the Shurou Ullamo (Council of Ulamo — an Islamic council that issues fatwas (religious rulings) Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda, who also graduated from religious school abroad, has saved his position.
Afshin Muqim, a spokesman for CRA, says the Committee has issued that order because some graduates of illegal foreign religious schools used mosque tribune for propagating radical ideas.
As far as Saidmukaram Abduqodirzoda is concerned, he graduated from the Tajik Islamic Institute, Tajik National University and Islamabad International Islamic University. He was appointed to head the Shuroi Ulamo in 2010. Saidmukarram Abduqodirzoda is also imam-khatib of Dushanbe’s Central Mosque named after Hoji Yaqub.
Under Tajikistan’s legislation, Tajik nationals can study only at those foreign religious schools with which the Tajik government has concluded official agreements.
Over the past two years, several imam-khatibs, who graduated from foreign religious schools, have been jailed for membership in the banned parties and movements. In the past summer, seven imam-khatibs in the northern Sughd province have been sentenced to prison for propagating ideas of the banned Muslim Brotherhood organization.
Recall, President Emomali Rahmon warned in August 2010 that illegal foreign religious schools are indoctrinating Tajik students with radical Islamist ideology, and urged parents of madrasah students to bring them home.
