Kyrgyzstan: Osh officials hear concerns about uncertified imams
- Written by Erkin Kamalov
OSH, May 11 (CentralAsiaOnline) – Civil society representatives asked authorities to stop uncertified imams from teaching religion to children in the imams' homes during a May 7 conference on religious extremism and inter-ethnic harmony, Osh Internal Affairs Department spokesman Zamir Sadykov told Central Asia Online May 7.
Kurbanaly Uzakov, chairman of the Presidential Committee on Religious Affairs Commission for the South, noted the growth of various religious movements with differing views of traditional Islam. That growth is leading to a Muslim schism, he warned, calling for social unity and assistance to the authorities. Uzakov mentioned a group called Mastura, which he said teaches women illegal canons of Islam that contradict tradition.
The conferees issued a message to Osh dwellers, urging them to strengthen inter-ethnic harmony and resistance to religious extremism.
