DUSHANBE, February 14, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Several imam-khatibs have been replaced in Tajikistan recently.

Abdumalik Saidov, who had served as imam-khatib of the Bahouddin Naqshbandi Mosque in Dushanbe’s Sino district for twenty years, was replaced on February.

Saidov told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon that he was retired for age reasons.  According to Saidov, he was replaced by Eshoni Homidullo.

Meanwhile, Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda, a prominent Tajik religious figure, noted that six other imam-khatibs have been dismissed recently.

Turajonzoda says they were dismissed because they did not read out the statement by the Council of Ulamo (a group of scholars and imams that provides interpretations of religious practice), which alleged that the Turajonzoda brothers performed the Ashura ritual at the Muhammadiya Mosque on December 2.

We will recall that a special commission vetted the professionalism of 3,356 imams and imam-khatibs last year; 106 of the failed a test and more than 300 others were given time to improve their work.

The law stipulates that imams and imam-khatibs of mosques are selected by the appropriate state bodies in charge of religious affairs.  The government has organized attestations of imams, quizzing them of their knowledge of Islamic principles since 2007.