DUSHANBE, August 8, Asia-Plus — Pulling down of mosques in Dushanbe is an anti-Constitutional and anti-Islamic act, a letter dispatched by two deputies of Majlisi Namoyandagon (the lower house of the Tajik parliament, Muhiddin Kabiri and Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda, and member of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Hoji Akbar Tourajonzoda to President Emomali Rahmon on August 7 said.

“Such a practice hurts Constitutional rights of citizens and indirectly affects peace, stability and security in the country,” Muhiddin Kabiri, who is also leader of the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.  Consequences of such policy are known, according to him.

He agreed that all mosques and religious organizations in the country should function in accordance with law, “however, instead of taking such extreme measures and destroying mosques it would be better to take more prudent measures.”  “For example, to assist religious organizations with putting their documentations in order.”  According to him, it is paradox that some mosques have functioned for ten and even more years without permission of authorities but they are to be pulled down just now.   

“According to reliable sources, in July alone, two mosques were pulled down in Dushanbe and hundreds of others were suspended from functioning,” Kabiri said.  

The parliamentarian said he does not see logic in actions of local authorities that gave an order to pull down mosques.  “I could cite dozens of examples when state-owned facilities do not meet standard requirements but the question of pulling down these facilities has never arisen,” Kabiri said.