DUSHANBE, January 19, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- To-date, an estimated 1,430 Tajik students have returned from madrasahs in Egypt, Iran and Pakistan, according to the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan.

The source says the majority of them have returned home, while those who traveled to the Islamic nations for studying from Russia have returned to Russia again seeking better employment opportunities.  In all, 2,115 Tajik nationals studied at foreign religious schools, he noted.

Students who were studying at official foreign religious schools have an opportunity to continue their education at Tajik madrasahs, the source added.

We will recall that the return of the Tajik students from Muslim countries began in August-September last year after President Emomali Rahmon said students at illegal Islamic schools too often "fall under the influence of extremists.”  Rahmon advised parents to bring their children back to Tajikistan.