60 religious institutions closed in Osh region

At least 39 mosques and 21 religious educational institutions were closed in Osh region. The press center of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan reported.

An interdepartmental group consisting of representatives of the State Committee for National Security, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Commission for Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Health, Office of Presidential Envoy to the region, Cadastre state institution and the Spiritual Directorate of the Muslims of Kyrgyzstan has been checking the activities of religious institutions in Osh region since July 20 within the framework of ongoing activities to implement the Concept of State Policy in the Religious Sphere.

Its purpose is counteracting the spread of the ideology of religious extremism and non-traditional movements, as well as improving the religious situation in the region.

As representatives of the interdepartmental working group note, the main factors negatively affecting the situation and contributing to the spread of radical extremist ideology among believers are:

• Chaotic construction of religious institutions with disregard for the established architectural and construction, sanitary and epidemiological standards and without taking into account the real needs of the population;
• Lack of uniform standards of education in religious educational institutions, lack of control over the process in private and informal religious structures.

For violation of the requirements of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic «On freedom of religion and religious organizations», violation of architectural and construction, sanitary and epidemiological standards and fire safety requirements, acts were drawn up and instructions were given in relation to 48 mosques, 40 religious educational institutions; materials were registered on 15 facts (mosques — 9, religious educational institutions — 6), 7 materials were registered in the automated information system.

Activities of 39 mosques and 21 religious educational institutions have been suspended. Based on the protocols, fines were imposed on 39 religious objects. Activity of 18 religious objects of Christian orientation was checked.

At least 39 mosques that do not have relevant documents and are not subject to accounting registration, as they were built in violation of the established architectural and construction standards (located on the so-called «red line») have been revealed.