Dagestan seeks to discourage pursuance of Islamic education abroad

Makhackala/Agency Caucasus – The administration in Dagestan seeks various ways to promote religious education under its own control in a bid to prevent its people from going out to Arabic countries where they hope to get Islamic education. 

Dagestan’s President Mukhu Aliyev spoke of a need for two centers of education where Muslims can reach a level of authority in religious studies as those who seek to received religious education in various Arabic countries return home with views of opposition to Russia.  

"Dagestan has a lot of mosques (1680 in number) as well as madrases–places for religious education. Over 10,000 pilgrims went to Mecca from Dagestan in 2007 alone," said Aliyev at a press conference. "We maintain good relations with almost all Muslim countries. However, education in Arabic countries can sometimes be unfruitful in some Russian provinces. Not all graduates of Arabic universities return home with a liking for the Russian identity."

Aliyev also said that educational centers of religion would allow the people of Dagestan to benefit greatly. "A close cooperation with the Secretariat of Religion will hopefully help to resolve the question of religious education." 

However, recent studies say that 30 percent of the people do not trust the Secretariat of Religion.

KU/ÖZ/FT