TAJIK GOVT CLOSES UNREGISTERED MOSQUES

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 001111

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVT CLOSES UNREGISTERED MOSQUES


1. (U) Local police closed down an unregistered mosque in
Zarafshon neighborhood in Dushanbe July 26. Embassy staff
witnessed the closure of one mosque as authorities locked the
mosque's doors, prohibiting people from worshipping and angering
the local community. Police continued to patrol the
neighborhood in the evening, watching out for potential trouble.
The mosque is located in a residential area less than one
kilometer from the Embassy and on any day, approximately 30 to
100 people pray there.


2. (U) A former Imam of a Sino District mosque told a local
staff member who is active in Tajikistan's Muslim community that
as Sino District officials were attempting to close a mosque
they explained to the community that on July 23 Dushanbe's Mayor
Ubaidulloyev ordered local neighborhood authorities to shut down
80 known unregistered places of worship by the end of the week.
The order has so far prompted at least 20 confirmed mosque
closures and one imam believes the number is closer to 80.
Technically the Zarafshon mosque is unregistered, but local men
have been praying at the mosque for seven years. Mullah
Sirojiddin, the Imam of the Zarafshon mosque who has led prayers
for the past three years, is convinced that authorities targeted
his mosque because he openly delivers sermons critical of the
government.


3. (SBU) In an act of defiance, approximately 35 local
worshippers prayed outside the Zarafshon mosque after it was
closed July 26. Some worshippers suggested protesting by
praying out on the street and blocking traffic, and others
wanted to break the lock and reclaim the mosque. Mullah
Sirojiddin told our staff member he rejected these means of
protest and will take legal measures to re-open the mosque. Per
current legislation, the Imam plans to collect ten signatures of
district worshippers and apply to register his mosque. The
registration process is supposed to take one to three months, if
an applicant has presented all necessary documentation. Mullah
Sirojiddin doubts that even by following the proper procedures
that his mosque will actually be registered.


4. (SBU) COMMENT: Undoubtedly, the Zarafshon mosque and any of
the other closed mosques will face bureaucratic hurdles in their
attempts to register. If the issue were simply an
administrative registration matter, we do not believe the city
government would have used such a large display of authority to
close down the mosques. Instead the forceful tactics used to
lock the doors and patrol the area show that the government does
not want local residents to pray at the mosque or listen to the
Imam's sermons. As the Zarafshon residents have shown,
authorities may close mosques, but people will still find a way
to gather for religious worship or dialogue. The government may
defend its actions by claiming that it is trying to prevent
religious extremism in Tajikistan, but its harassment of
Christian groups as well indicates that it aims to control all
religious practices and activity. END COMMENT.

JACOBSON