Sayeedmukarram Abduqodirzoda, Tajikistan’s highest-ranking Muslim cleric, was injured in an attack outside a central mosque in the capital Dushanbe on Wednesday, according to the interior ministry.
The incident occurred following a prayer service at the mosque, when an individual with “hooligan motives” stabbed Abduqodirzoda, the ministry said. The 61-year-old cleric suffered minor injuries and was released after a medical examination.
Authorities have detained the attacker and opened a criminal case into the incident, the ministry added. The motive behind the attack is currently unknown, but officials have ruled out terrorism.
Abduqodirzoda has served as chairman of the Islamic Council of Ulema, the country’s highest Islamic institution, since 2010. He is a prominent figure in Tajikistan’s religious community, and his attack has sent shockwaves throughout the country.
Tajikistan, a landlocked nation of approximately 10 million people, is situated between Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. The majority of Tajiks adhere to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, and the country has a long history of religious tolerance.
The attack on Abduqodirzoda has raised concerns about the safety and security of religious leaders in Tajikistan, and authorities have vowed to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future. An investigation into the attack is currently underway.
