10:46, 02 марта 2026, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Baktygul OSMONALIEVA
A fee will be charged from pilgrims under a decision adopted by the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan. The muftiyat commented on the new measure.
It is noted that during the People’s Kurultai held in December 2024, participants appealed to the president to consider raising salaries for imams.
However, since the Kyrgyz Republic is a secular state under its Constitution, the issue was referred to the muftiyat. The state budget does not allocate funds for resolving matters in the religious sphere.
The muftiyat acknowledged that it initially sought external sources of funding but ultimately decided to rely on its own resources.
«Our people support imams. We are confident that they will support them again. But from what sources can we provide this support? In order for mullahs to perform their duties, they must be paid salaries.
We frequently travel to the regions and meet with religious leaders. With the exception of Bishkek and Osh, we see that in most regions, religious leaders are elderly imams... They have served the people their entire lives without receiving a single som in salary. But in 10-15 years, our elderly imams will no longer be able to serve. Under these circumstances, what will be the situation for believers, especially those living in remote villages? Who will replace these imams? How can we attract highly educated religious leaders to mosques in rural areas? What will happen if educated people don’t fight growing ignorance, narrow-mindedness, intolerance, aggression, violence, and wastefulness? What will happen if various movements and sects operating under the guise of religion, gain strength and sow chaos among the people? What will happen if daily advances in science and technology, the negative consequences of globalization, the «false» fatwas of artificial intelligence, various teachings, concepts, distortions of fundamental principles, and narratives alien to Islam and its values confuse our people, deprive them of their will, and call into question the faith of our people, who have professed Islam for millennia? What will happen if our youth embrace various foreign religions or atheism?» the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan asks.
The clergy noted the need for educated and energetic young imams.
«We need educated young cadres capable of calling to prayer at the birth of a child, conducting wedding ceremonies, properly washing and shrouding the bodies of the deceased, and conducting funerals. If not today, then tomorrow we will desperately need them. But how can we retain them in rural areas? If we cannot provide them with a decent salary, how will they serve in rural areas? We’ve been holding an open competition for personnel reserves for two months now. However, only a few candidates have applied. Meanwhile, approximately 5,000 madrassas graduate imams annually. Where are they? Why haven’t they applied? What’s the reason?» the statement reads.
The muftiyat agrees that low salaries discourage young imams from going to the regions. It calls on believers to participate in creating all the necessary conditions for young clergy.
It is noted that after consultations with the community, a decision was made to charge a fee from those who make pilgrimages to holy sites.
«Since Umrah is a religious act, we have decided to charge a fee of 9 percent of the cost. We have submitted the proposal to the Council of Scholars to verify its compliance with Sharia,» the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan reported.