Illegal Issuance of Mosque Construction Permit in Barpy
Illegal Mosque Construction Case Uncovered in Jalal-Abad Region
A citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic has found himself at the center of a criminal case after the illegal construction of a mosque in the Jalal-Abad region. The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) reported that permits for the construction of the mosque were obtained illegally, and the mosque was built in the Barpy village, Suzak district in the courtyard of the citizen’s house without the necessary permissions.
An interdepartmental working commission, created at the initiative of the SCNS to check the legality of the work of religious institutions in Jalal-Abad region, stopped the activities of the mosque in March 2023 and imposed a fine of 7,500 soms. The state committee noted that the citizen, with the assistance of the head of the rural administration of Barpy, the kazyat of Jalal-Abad region, and the Suzak branch of Cadastre, obtained permits after collecting signatures from residents of other villages. Furthermore, the mosque was found to have been visited by representatives of religious movements prohibited by law.
A criminal case has now been opened under Article 337 “Abuse of official position” of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. Those under scrutiny within the framework of the case include the head of the rural administration of Barpy, the heads of the Suzak branch of Cadastre, the kazy of Jalal-Abad region, and the State Commission for Religious Affairs. The registration certificate for the mosque will be canceled, and the mosque will be repurposed as a social facility, such as a medical aid station or a state pharmacy, for the needs of the residents of Barpy village.
The illegal construction of the mosque highlights the significance of adhering to the laws and regulations governing religious institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic. The case serves as a reminder of the consequences of attempting to bypass legal procedures for the construction of religious organizations.
