11 new central mosques registered in Tajikistan since the beginning of the year

DUSHANBE, July 12, 2011, Asia-Plus -- 31 new religious facilities, including 11 central mosques, five “five-time” prayer mosques and 4 madrassahs, have been registered in Tajikistan since the beginning of this year, Abdurahim Kholiqov, head of the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under Government of Tajikistan announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on July 11.

Kholiqov also denied reports released by some media that CRA allegedly creates obstacles in the way of registration of religious associations as “baseless.”  According to him, the situation with registration of religious associations is much more favorable in Tajikistan than in many Muslim countries.

“To-date, 23 “five-time” mosques (mosques for daily prayers), two Friday prayer mosques (larger facilities built for weekly Friday prayers), 2 central Friday mosques, two churches and four madrassahs have lodged their documents for registration to the Committee on Religious Affairs,” the CRA head noted. 

Tajikistan now has 39 central Friday mosques, 338 Friday prayer mosques, 3,352 mosques for daily prayers, and one Ismaili jamoatkhona (place of worship).

There are 74 registered non-Muslim religious organizations in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan now has one higher education Islamic institution and five madrassahs for students who have completed secondary school.