An Osh regional official says many mosques in the southern Kyrgyz region are in urgent need of attention.
Osh Deputy Governor Gulayim Mashrapova told RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service that a special commission set up to check all 624 mosques in the province found that some 100 of them are out of control, in poor condition, or need other kinds of government assistance.
Kyrgyz State Religions Agency head Kanybek Osmonaliev told RFE/RL that many mosques in southern Kyrgyzstan urgently need help to improve sanitary conditions and the level of education.
Osh is a part of Kyrgyzstan that has deep Islamic roots and traditions.