CHOLPON-ATA, Kyrgyzstan -- Ninety-nine Kyrgyz imams in late November attended a training seminar in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul Province, the Bishkek-based religious NGO Iyman Foundation said in a recent statement.
Of the 99, 87 came from Issyk-Kul Province and 12 from Chui Province. Iyman and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (DUMK) organised the training session, Iyman said.
The courses were meant to improve the imams' ability to work with the public in preventing the spread of extremism.
During the training, Jumabai Abdraliyev, an imam from Issyk-Kul Province, proposed establishing religious literacy courses for the entire population. Such courses will prevent radicalisation of the public and extremist recruitment of the Kyrgyz, he said.
