DUSHANBE, November 21, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- In an open letter to Education Minister Abdujabbor Rahmonov and the State Adviser to the President for Social Policy Saymurod Fattoyev published on November 20, member of the Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) also known Tajik religious figure Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda called for refusal of using some school textbooks that discredit Islam and Islamic values.

Turajonzoda added that authors of textbooks on history of religions were ignorant of history of Islam and their view of Islam and Islamic values was preconceived, unscientific and to certain extent libelous and insulting.

He argued that teaching of those issues in such a form was a breeding ground for school students’ distrust in Islam and led to poisoning of minds of Muslim children in Tajikistan.