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[27 September 2007] - Uzbekistan's state-controlled Muftiate or Spiritual Administration issued special instructions on how local imams are to observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began in Uzbekistan on 13 September. Journalists and human rights activists have told Forum 18 News Service that the instructions include restrictionson the rights of children to attend Tarawih prayers conducted in mosques at night. However, Saidbahrom Gulyamov, head of the International Department at the Muftiate, categorically denied this. "No special procedures are in force during Ramadan," he told Forum 18 from the capital Tashkent on 19 September. "No such instructions were issued." He then conceded that "suggestions" were issued. Muslims outside Uzbekistan told Forum 18 that although the timing of Tarawih prayers is flexible, it should be the decision of the local imam and community as to how much of the Koran is read, who should read it and how long the prayers should last. They stressed that it was normal for an imam to preach and explain the meaning of the readings and said it is up to parents to decide whether their children should attend the prayers. Neither Artyk Yusupov, head of the government's Religious Affairs Committee, nor any of its officials were available to explain the restrictions. Although restrictions are reported to be tighter in the Namangan, Andijan [Andijon] and Fergana [Farghona] Regions of the Fergana Valley in eastern Uzbekistan, no religious affairs official in these regions would discuss the restrictions with Forum 18, merely issuing blanket denials. Government backing Tashkent-based opposition activist Vasila Inoyatova says the government is behind the instructions. "They fear that religious people will gather at the fast-breaking meal [after sunset]," she told Forum 18 from Tashkent on 19 September. "The police presence has been strengthened at mosques, especially in the Fergana Valley." She said that local people had reported to her that in Andijan Region, Muslims were banned from attending mosques in cars and that bags are being searched at mosque doors. "They fear religious literature could be brought in cars and bags and distributed during prayers." Azamat Abdurahmanov, religious affairs official at the Namangan Regional Hokimat (administration), denied to Forum 18 on 20 September that any restrictions are in place. He said he had not attended a 5 September meeting called by the Muftiate's regional representative Abdulhai Tursunov at which the instructions were passed on to local imams. He then put the phone down. Shukhrat Turdykulov of Fergana Regional Hokimat told Forum 18 on 19 September only that "prayers are underway" and put the phone down. Reached on 12 September just before Ramadan began, Shaket Gulomov of Andijan Regional Hokimat denied that any instructions had been issued or that any restrictions would be imposed. "Nothing is banned – imams can preach," he told Forum 18. "No limits are in place on how many people can attend mosque, or on the number of cars that can be parked outside mosques." He added that "no special provisions" have been imposed on children's attendance at mosques, though he would not confirm whether they are allowed to attend or not. Away from the Fergana Valley, religious affairs official Muhto Ibadullaev of the Hokimat of Samarkand Region in central Uzbekistan denied to Forum 18 on 19 September that any restrictions on Muslim prayers were in place during Ramadan. However, he declined to discuss anything further and put the phone down. In an article published by the independent Central Asian news website ferghana.ru on 7 September, M. Toshotarov wrote from Namangan of restrictions imposed by the Muftiate in Tashkent. He said an order from the Muftiate banned imams from preaching during the night prayers and that prayers must be concluded by 10 pm. He added that each imam must contact the regional leader to confirm that prayers have finished and report any incidents before being allowed to go home. Children banned Imams are responsible for ensuring that school-age children do not attend the night prayers. "If you invite children to the mosque you will burn in hell," Toshotarov quoted Abdulhai Tursunov, the Regional Muslim leader, as telling local imams, "and because of you your mosques will be closed and you will be punished with the curses of the people." Tursunov also reportedly insisted that only koris (Koran readers) who had studied at Namangan's Mullah Kyrgyz madrassa (Islamic college) were to be allowed to read the Koran in mosques. He said local imams had to give the names and contact numbers of all Koran readers. Further information
pdf: http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1020