This year, the IHH held Qurban campaigns in 120 countries and regions, including Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as well as autonomous region of East Turkistan.  

In Kyrgyzstan, 196 animals were slaughtered in impoverished town of Libidinofka. The meat was distributed to needy families, instructors and students staying at a national dormitory.  

IHH officials visited the Academy of Islamic Sciences in the city of Kara-Balta and distributed Qurban meat to academy students. School head Sheikh Osman said they had expectations from Turkey.  

In addition to Qurban activities, IHH officials carried out certain social activities too. In the capital city of Bishkek, 50 orphans were given clothes. A large crowd was present at the ceremony despite freezing temperature.  

The IHH team also made a visit to Pitrofka orphanage in Moskovsky District, 60 km from Bishkek. A few orphans from this orphanage had attended the IHH-held 4th Orphan Meeting in Turkey. The team met the orphanage administrator and two of those orphans and gave them various gifts.  

Religious officials given imamate certificates

Meanwhile, the IHH is carrying on a religious training program for imams that was launched two years ago in cooperation with Grand Mufti of Kyrgyzstan. There are 2,500 mosques and 3,000 imams in the country and so far 450 imams have attended the program. The objective is to offer training to all imams. Those imams who do not attend this training and receive certificates will be disqualified from imamate. Most of present imams have been chosen by the people among religious figures with limited education in religious subjects. Kyrgyzstan, a young state, aims to raise standards of imams, who have great influence in informing and educating people, and empower the religious establishment.      

Another 30 imams have completed the program and received certificates. IHH deputy president Ensar Kılıçoğlu, Hatay provincial head for the Felicity Party of Turkey Necmettin Çalışkan, deputy grand mufti of Kyrgyzstan, assistant president of Manas University and local authorities attended the ceremony. Speaking on behalf of IHH, Çalışkan stressed imams have assumed a sacred duty and added: “You have assumed a very sacred duty. It is in your hands to prevent any kind of evil in a society. If you fulfill your duty and improve people, the country will develop and evil will vanish. There will be no need for law enforcement officers and family heads. People will live in peace.”