DUSHANBE, February 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- ORA Tajikistan, which is the Tajikistan branch of ORA International, has resumed its activity in the country.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Davlat Sulaymonov, head of the department for registration of political parties and public associations within the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), said that taking into consideration the fact that the organization had provided humanitarian aid to the country through the years, the ministry and ORA Tajikistan concluded an amicable agreement at the end of January at the suggestion of Dushanbe’s city court.

“However, the organization will work in the country only on conditions that it will close all its branches illegally set up in the provinces, stop religious propaganda and submit quarterly reports on its activities and information about its employees to the ministry,” said Sulaymonov, “Otherwise, the organization will be closed.”

We will recall that in April 2008, a court in Dushanbe’s Shohmansour district handed down ruling to suspend activity of the ORA Tajikistan following application of the MoJ.  According to the ministry, inspection revealed that ORA Tajikistan was engaged in illegal activity in the Khatlon province.  The organization allegedly violated Article 56 of Tajikistan’s Civil Code, under which, representative offices and branches are not legal entities, and therefore, they do not have the right to set up their branches and sub-divisions.  Besides, in the youth center established in Kulob, in addition to language courses religious propaganda was conducted among teenagers, according to the ministry.

ORA (Orphans, Refugees and Aid) International is a German-based Christian relief and development organization engaged in providing relief to people in need worldwide.  ORA Tajikistan is the Tajikistan branch of ORA International. In Tajikistan they have been running a Social Work Training Programme primarily concerned with improving the conditions of institutionalized children.  They have run various activity programs for youth as well as providing emergency supplies of food and supplies for children''s homes.  ORA Tajikistan has also run a disability program and has assisted with renovating and furnishing a home for blind children.