BISHKEK -- Greater religious literacy is a key to defeating extremism in Kyrgyzstan, according to Zakir Chotayev, first deputy chief of the State Commission for Religious Affairs.
"Until we train our own spiritual leaders ... we will constantly be subjected to extremist influence from abroad," he said at a Wednesday (February 22) Bishkek forum on security, according to AKIpress.org.
One of the main weapons against extremism is an information campaign promoting a secular state, love of peace, tolerance and other such values, he said.
"Specialised government agencies are conducting preventive measures meant to expand religious literacy among the public," he said.
