One in Four Mosques Face Closure in Osh

NNN- A newly-built mosque stands tall, overlooking the city of Osh where there are close to 722 mosques. The main religious authority in Kyrgyzstan has given orders for the closure of 177 mosques for operating without state permission. Osh - one of the oldest settlements in Central Asia with deep Islamic roots - is the second largest in the country after Bishkek and is often referred to as the “capital of the south”. Officials with the Osh regional Muslim directorate say that the imams leading the unregistered mosques are not a threat and are appointees of local religious leaders. In July 2011, the government banned children's classes at local mosques and using mosques for residential purposes. Photo courtesy: rferl.org ---NNN