DUSHANBE, April 13, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- On April 11, the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) organized a roundtable meeting to discuss possible effects of the adoption of a new religion law in the country.

Representatives of political parties, lawyers and experts, as well as a number of known Tajik clerics attended the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, the deputy head of the IRPT, Muhammadali Hoit, noted that some provisions of the new law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations” contravened implementation of the law itself.  “The parliament ignored the draft law on religion worked out by the IRPT that was submitted to the parliament in 2007 already; therefore, the bill worked out by the government should have been considered as the alternative one,” said Hoit, “Moreover, the government bill was submitted for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Committee on Public Order, Defense and Security, while they should have submitted it for consideration to the Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Policy.”

Hoit noted that the new religion law was a highly restrictive, prohibiting people from praying in offices and military units.  According to him, the IRPT considers that the new religion law violates rights of Tajik Muslims and is ready to work out amendments to it.

Known Tajik cleric also member of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda also criticized the law and expressed readiness to participate in working out amendments to it.