TAJIKISTAN: LENIN CLERIC ELEVATED TO MUFTI.

In Dushanbe yesterday, "the second republican Muslim congress" unanimously elected Amanullo Negmatzoda to the position of Mufti (highest-ranking cleric) of Muslims in Tajikistan. No other candidacy was considered. The 55 years old cleric had served until now as khatib (superior) of a mosque in the Lenin kolkhoz situated in the Lenin district near Dushanbe. (Itar-Tass, June 19) The post of Mufti had been vacant since February when regime loyalist Fathullo Sharifzoda was assassinated, also near Dushanbe, by still unidentified gunmen.

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