DUSHANBE, June 4 2014, Asia-Plus -- An unregistered religious school has been discovered in the Hisor district.

According to the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) press center, some 80 children aged 3 to 18 attended the unregistered religious school run by Hakimali Nizomov, who is also known as Qori Abdulhakim.

They reportedly paid to Qori Abdulhakim 300 somoni per month each.

Meanwhile, a video posted on YouTube shows children saying that they were beaten and tortured by their teacher.

The SCNS press center notes that Hakimali Nizomov was granted license in 2004 for opening madrasah at the cathedral mosque in Hisor.  Nizomov, however, began to teach children at his home.

Relevant bodies reportedly reveaeld this fact in 2007 and the madrasaha was suspended.  Besides, administrative action was imposed upon  Hakimali Nizomov.

At present, criminal proceedings have been instituted against Nizomov under the provisions of three articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 165 – impediment to obtaining nine-year basic education; Article 117 – torture; and Article 170 – bigamy or polygamy.