The US Commission noted Mahmadsoidik Saidov in its report

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom noted the case of imprisoned Imam Mahmadsoidik Saidov in its report.

Photo: Internet

The report dated January 10, 2022, from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom states that Tajik authorities sentenced Mahmadsoidik Saidov to imprisonment.

The report mentions that Saidov was arrested on March 5, 2021, immediately after he refused to read an official sermon provided by the State Committee for Religious Affairs. “On June 4, Saidov was sentenced to five years in prison allegedly for participating in an ‘extremist’ organization,” the report states.

28-year-old Mahmadsoidik Saidov is the first mosque imam from Tajikistan to be mentioned in the U.S. report on international religious freedom. Last year, the commission also highlighted a imprisoned follower of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Tajikistan as a prisoner due to violations of freedom of religion.

According to Tajik media, Imam of the Kulob mosque “Nonvoyi Poyon” Mahmadsoidik Saidov, who “leaked” state-prepared sermons for Friday prayers to the press, was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Employees of the State National Security Committee of Tajikistan detained the 28-year-old imam on March 28, 2021, on charges of transmitting sermon texts prepared by the Committee for Religion to the information website “Isloh.” The head of the “Isloh” website, Muhammadikboli Sadriddin, denied any connection with the imam.