KHUJAND, July 14, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Six illegal places for teaching underage children Islam have been discovered in Sughd province in a special operation, dubbed Madrasah, according to the Sughd police directorate.

The source says the illegal places for teaching Islam have been discovered in Isfara, Istaravshan, and Bobojonghafurov districts.

“Thus, the 35-year-old jobless from the Ispisor jamoat in Bobojonghafurov, Muhammad Ortiqov, was teaching three underage children Islam at his home,” said the source, “Ortiqov faces charges of breaking Article 474 of the country’s administrative code (violation of the law on religious organizations).”

According to the Sughd police directorate, 1,375 mosques now function in Sughd and there are 93 religious schools operating at mosques.