$55m mosque–madrasa complex to anchor Kyrgyzstan’s new Islamic education system

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (MNTV) — Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov says a $55 million mosque-madrasa complex funded by businessman Abdukadyr Khabibulla will serve as the foundation of a new state-run Islamic education system designed to curb the influence of unsupervised foreign teachings.

Speaking to the Kabar news agency, Japarov said the complex — comprising a large mosque, a madrasa and student dormitories — will allow children to receive religious education at home rather than travelling abroad.

“Religious literacy is an important issue for the state. Until the age of 18, we will educate and guide children ourselves,” he said.

Graduates of the madrasa will continue at the Islamic Academy in Tokmok, he added, noting that the government plans to eventually staff the country’s approximately 4,000 mosques with alumni trained through this unified system.

Japarov said Khabibulla is also building a five-star hotel on the grounds of the former Naryn restaurant as a private business project, while the mosque complex is being donated to the state.

“If he wanted, he could simply build a hotel,” the president said. “But building a mosque for several thousand people, along with a madrasa and dormitory, is his voluntary contribution to society. He has promised to hand it over and help maintain it in the future.”

He added that the state will provide funding for religious education as needed, calling the initiative a step toward reducing fragmentation in Kyrgyzstan’s religious landscape.