This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

The Dushanbe Synagogue of Tajikistan functioned between early in the 1900s and February 2006. On 22 February 2006 the government of Tajikistan began demolition of the synagogue to make way for a new presidential residence, the "Palace of Nations". Dushanbe's synagogue was the last synagogue in Tajikistan, and at the time of its destruction was a functioning house of worship serving the city's 150 Jews. The synagogue was built by the Bukharan Jewish Community in the early 1900s. Seized by the Soviet Union in 1920, it was nationalized in 1952. The Jewish community was again allowed access to the building in 1958, although the land remained in government hands. The synagogue functioned after Tajikistan's independence in 1991 and throughout its civil war from 1992 to 1997. In May 2003, Jewish community received an official letter ordering them to vacate the building by July of that year. Demolition, originally scheduled for 2004, began in early January 2006 with the destruction of the community's ritual bath (mikveh), kosher butcher, and classrooms. On 22 February 2006 demolition of the main synagogue began. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... To suggest a relevant news story for the main page, refer to the criteria then add your suggestion at the candidates page. ... February 22 is the 53rd day of every year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Lesko synagogue, Poland A synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת ; beit knesset, house of assembly; Yiddish: שול, shul) is a Jewish place of religious worship. ... Dushanbe (Душанбе), population 562,000 people (2000 census), is the capital of Tajikistan. ... The Persian (Tajik) speaking Jews from the Central Asian province of Bukhara (Bukhoro Wiloyati). ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Mikvah (or Mikveh, מקוה) is a Jewish ritual bath used for immersion in a purification ceremony. ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ... February 22 is the 53rd day of every year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Controversy

Controversy surrounded the destruction of the synagogue. While the government does not feel the building is of historical significance, the Jewish Community, led by Rabbi Mikhail Abdurakhmanov, points to its role as the last remaining Jewish house of prayer in the entire nation. The Jewish community has stated it can document its original ownership of the building and purchase of the land, however Shamsuddin Nuriddinov, Head of Dushanbe's Religious Affairs Department of City administration has stated that, "it is a lie to say that the Dushanbe Jews paid for construction of the synagogue." The state has refused to compensate the community for the destroyed building, but has offered the community 0.15 hectares of land at the edge of the city and rental of a building in which to hold religious services temporarily. The community has stated it cannot afford costs of rental or construction. Even if they could afford these expenses, one source stated that "most of those attending the synagogue are elderly and very poor, and it is hard for them, both physically and morally, to get to a temporary building provided by the city authorities." [1] [2] [3]

Background: Religion in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is today a secular state. 85-90 % of the population of Tajikistan is Muslim; less than 1 % are Jews. Christians live in Tajikistan as well. The Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP), a major combatant in the 1992-1997 Civil War and then-proponent of the creation of an Islamist state in Tajikistan, constitutes no more than 30 % of the government by statute. Membership in Hizb ut-Tahrir, a party which today aims for the unification of Tajiks under one Islamic state, is illegal. Religious communities in Tajikistan are sometimes fined large amounts for failing to register with the state; however, it is often made difficult for them to do so. The size of a community required for registration was under review in 2003[4]. A secular state is a state with no state religion and in which the state is neutral in matters of religion, neither supporting nor opposing any particular religious beliefs or practices. ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم) (sometimes also spelled Moslem) is an adherent of Islam. ... As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ... Tajikistan Civil War, a civil war from 1992-1997 in Tajikistan. ... A state religion (also called an established church or state church) is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state. ... Hizb ut-Tahrir (Arabic: حزب التحرير meaning Party of Liberation) is an Islamist political party whose goal is to establish a pan-Islamic caliphate (Khalifah). ...

See also

• Bukharan Jews
• Islam in Tajikistan

Bukharan Jews (Bukhoran Jews, Bukharian Jews) is a blanket term for Jews from Central Asia speaking a dialect of the Tajik language. ... Islam, the predominant religion of all of Central Asia, was brought to the region by the Arabs in the seventh century. ...

External links

• Forum 18, Oslo, Norway, [5]