Tajikistan's lower house of parliament endorsed a bill on Wednesday to restrict nationals from receiving religious education abroad amid fears of a growth of terrorist activity in the mainly-Muslim state.
If the bill is approved by the upper house of parliament and the president, Tajiks wishing to undertake religious training outside Tajikistan will need to complete a course of study at home and receive permission from both the Education Ministry and committee of religious affairs.
Davlatali Davlatzoda, the deputy head of the ruling People's Democratic Party, said the measure was aimed at "preventing possible conflicts in society."
Last year, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon urged parents not to let their children undertake religious training abroad for fears that they might engage in terrorist activities.
Tajikistan is the poorest of the former Soviet states and has a majority Sunni Muslim population.
DUSHANBE, May 25 (RIA Novosti)
