Disappearing Places of Worship

page 1 of 2 by Forum 18 Tajik authorities are employing ban-and-bulldoze tactics against all three “Peoples of the Book.” Members of Tajikistan’s Jewish community and several Protestant churches are denying Tajik official claims to have followed proper procedures in demolishing religious buildings or suppressing religious organizations. Tajik officials told the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s annual human-rights conference in Warsaw that an alternative site has been offered to Dushanbe's ancient Jewish community to compensate it for the demolition of their synagogue in June. The Jews of Dushanbe worshipped at this modest synagogue. Photo by Zvi Lerman. However, Tajik Chief Rabbi Mikhail Abdurakhmanov expressed surprise at the claims. He told Forum 18 that no alternative site has been offered. In a... [read full story]