DUSHANBE, July 19, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik known politician and religious leader of Tajikistan, Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda, has laid the first brick of a Friday prayer mosque (facility for weekly Friday prayers) in the city of Komosomolsk am Amur, Russia, according to the Tajik Diaspora in Komosomlsk am Amur

A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Friday prayer mosque took place in Komsomolsk am Amur on July 18.  It will be the first officially functioning mosque in the city, said the source.  According to him the Komsomolsk am Amur population now exceeds 350,000 people, and some 30,000-35,000 of them are Muslims.

The construction of the mosque is funded by the religious organization, Nour (Light), which was established by persons who are Tajiks by origin, the source added.