KABUL (SW): The Minister for Hajj and Religious Affairs told the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) on Saturday that the Imams [prayers’ leaders] across the country cannot be compelled on certain subjects for preaching.
He was among a number of other officials called by the house to explain reasons for not being able to counter preaching of anti-government and pro-militant propaganda. Faiz Mohammad Usmani, the Minister for Hajj and Religious Affairs said that efforts to train the Imams and streamline the mosque system are underway but nothing can be imposed in this regard.
The house also called officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Education to clear their stance in regard to the spread of militant ideology.
Faiz Mohammad Usmani told the house that an overwhelming majority of the Imams across the country back the government but exerting too much pressure on them could back fire. The Minister noted that the Constitution of the country grants the liberty of speech to citizens, and the Imams have this right as well. Usmani mentioned that plans to spread religious awareness via radio channels are under consideration.
An institute for the training of Imams would be inaugurated next year and a guidebook for the Imams would be published soon, he said.
Responding to the quarries of the WJ members, Bari Siddiqui, Deputy Minister for Higher Education, said that a commission has been tasked to review the subject of Islamic Civilization while constant monitoring of the academic activities is underway. Saeedi Muzgan, Deputy Minister for Information and Culture suggested on the occasion that a clause should be added to the media law about what can and what cannot be broadcast or published by the media houses.
Mohammad Shafique Samim, Director for Religious Studies at the Ministry of Education said that the ministry constantly reviews the religious subjects taught at schools.
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