President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Zheenbekov received today director of the State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zayirbek Ergeshov, Kabar reports.
The efforts being made to further enhance the effectiveness of state policy in the religious sphere, and to create tolerant interfaith relations in the country were discussed at the meeting.
Zheenbekov said that in recent years the world has been intensifying the tendency to use the religious sphere in order to radicalize society and spread extremist and terrorist ideas, this trend is also dangerous for Kyrgyzstan.
"It is necessary to strengthen work on raising the educational level of the population in the religious sphere, to tighten control over the implementation of a unified training program in all madrassas and other religious schools," the president said.
He stressed that state policy in the religious sphere should be conducted, relying on the principles of a secular state.
Zheenbekov also noted the need to compile a list of religious organizations and educational institutions and strengthen control over their financial and other activities in order to prevent and counter the spread of religious radicalism.
Director of the State Commission for Religious Affairs Zayirbek Ergeshov reported on the implementation of the Concept of State Policy in the Religious Sphere for 2014-2020.
He said, at the moment there is work on improving the legislative framework governing the religious sphere of the country. In addition, work is being done to improve religious education. "One of our main tasks is to increase the religious education of the population and the religious figures themselves," Ergeshov said.
Also in order to prevent religious extremism in 2017, the State Commission for Religious Affairs held more than 500 training events, seminars and international conferences.