Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee of National Security (UKMK) said on October 10 that it had closed 32 mosques and five religious schools in the southern region of Batken as a result of a special commission checking the operations of 55 mosques and six religious schools in the region. The commission, consisting of officials representing the regional government, the UKMK, the Interior Ministry, the Emergency Ministry, the Health Ministry, the Grand Mufti's office, along with other state bodies and institutions looked into whether radical Islamic ideology and extremist views could be present in the work of the religious institutions. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, click here.
Kyrgyz Authorities Shut Down 32 Mosques, 5 Religious Schools In Southern Batken Region
The mosques and religious schools were closed after their operations were inspected by a special commission.