DUSHANBE, May 25, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) has endorsed amendments to the Law on Freedom of Conscience and religious Associations (Law on Religion).

A regular sitting of the second session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its chairman, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on May 24.

Presenting the bill requiring amendments to the Law on Religion, the chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) Abdurahim Kholiqov said the amendments were aimed at regulating obtainment by Tajik citizens of religious education abroad.

“Under the amendments, Tajik citizens have the right to study at religious schools abroad by authority of the Ministry of Education (MoE) and CRA only after obtaining primary religious education inside the country,” Kholiqov noted.

MP Davlatali Davlatzoda noted that the majority of inhabitants adhered to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, while some Tajik citizens are studying abroad on other schools of Islam that could create disagreement and conflict in interpreting some canons of Islam.  According to him, the government will regulate in what country and what education Tajik citizens will obtain that will allow preventing conflicts among religious figures and in society as a whole.

Asked about the number of religious schools in the country, Kholiqov noted that currently, some 1,500 students are studying at the Islamic Institute and some 6,000 students are studying at 19 madrassahs, one religious gymnasium and two secular-religious high schools.