KHUJAND, July 12, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Local authorities of the northern province of Sughd have temporarily shut down all the five madrasahs (schools offering religious education) functioning in the province.

Abdulhakim Sharipov, the head of the Sughd department on religious affairs, stated this at a news conference in Khujand on July 11.

According to him, the madrasahs have been temporarily shut down because they should receive permits from the Ministry of Education.

Six madrasahs now officially function in Tajikistan and five of them are in Sughd province.  In Sughd, the madrasahs function in Istaravshan, Khujand, Konibodom, Panjakent and Bobojonghafurov.  A total of 300 students study at these madrasahs, Sharipov said.