Prayer in Dushanbe Suspended Due to Putin's Visit!
(Translated)
News:
From October 7th to 12th, several mosques in Dushanbe will temporarily suspend congregational prayers. According to the city's Department of Internal Affairs, these restrictions are being implemented "in connection with the important events taking place in the city," in reference to the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Congregational prayers will be temporarily suspended in the mosques of Mavlono Yaqub Charkhi, Sari Osiyo, Abu Hanifa, Khoji Ismatullah, and Imam Bukhari Mosque from October 8th to 12th.
It is worth mentioning that Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in Dushanbe on October 7th to visit military facilities belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defense in Tajikistan. He was received at Dushanbe airport by Tajik Defense Minister Imam Ali Sobirzoda and Chief of General Staff Bobojon Saidzoda.
Comment:
It should be noted that according to official data, the 201st military base stationed in Tajikistan is the largest Russian military facility outside its borders, located in the cities of Dushanbe and Bokhtar. The base includes motorized rifle units, tanks, artillery, reconnaissance, air defense, chemical, biological, radiation, and communications units. The total number of Russian forces in Tajikistan is about 10,000 soldiers, while the number of the Tajik National Army does not exceed about 9,000 soldiers!
In light of all this, Putin's visit seems more like a diplomatic state visit of a foreign leader than a spot-check visit of a Russian master to his colony in Central Asia. Rahmonov does not hide his submission to the Russians, which is not surprising, as Moscow guarantees the security of his regime.
It is worth mentioning that the suspension of congregational prayers in mosques during such events has become normal under the Rahmonov regime. For example, in July 2024, Friday prayers in Dushanbe were canceled due to the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is clear that Rahmonov seeks to portray Tajikistan to his foreign patrons as a country free of Islam, i.e., as they want it.
Written for the Media Office of Hizb ut-Tahrir Central Wilayah
Muhammad Mansour