DUSHANBE, February 8, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Attestations of imams of 17 Friday prayer mosques in Dushanbe, quizzing them on their knowledge of Islamic principles, has been held at the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan.

The CRA deputy chairman Mavlon Mukhtorov says two imam-khatibs of Friday prayer mosques in Dushanbe’s Firdavsi and Sino districts have failed the test.  “The commission charged by the government with assessing the professionalism of imam-khatibs gave them six months to improve heir knowledge of Islamic principles as well as of the country’s religion law,” Mukhtorov said, noting that the repeated attestation will be organized for them.

The commission members included representatives from the CRA, the Islamic Center of Tajikistan and the Dushanbe municipal government.

We will recall that 242 imam-khatibs were vetted last year.  Two imam-khatibs of Friday prayer mosques and 26 imam-khatibs of mosques for daily prayers failed the test and were given time to improve their knowledge of Islamic principles

 According to the statistical data from the CRA, Tajikistan now has 3,347 registered mosques for daily prayers, 327 Friday prayer mosques (larger facilities built for weekly Friday prayers) and 31 central mosques.