QURGHON TEPPA, January 24, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- In 2011, the local authorities in Khatlon’s Panj district closed down five mosques that were functioning without appropriate permission and documents, Majid Davlatov, the deputy chairman of the Panj district, told reporters on January 23.

According to him, two of those mosques were converted into choikhonas (teahouses) and three others were converted into gyms and first-aid station.

There are currently 66 mosques in the Panj district, Davlatov noted.

He added that two cases of teaching eight underage children without a license were revealed in the district last year.  In both cases, an administrative action was imposed upon mullahs (Islamic clerics).