In Samarkand, a former imam-khatib who provided illegal religious education to children was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison

In Samarqand, a former imam-khatib who illegally provided religious education to children was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison

In the Urgut district of the Samarqand region, a former imam-khatib stood trial for illegally providing religious education to minors and consuming narcotics. According to the verdict of the Urgut District Criminal Court, the 42-year-old man was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months of deprivation of liberty.

According to the investigation, from the end of May 2026 until June 23, the defendant provided religious lessons to five minors in one of the apartments in the Urgut district. Investigation documents note that in exchange, it was agreed to receive a fee of $100 per month from each child. On June 23, during an operational event conducted by the Urgut district department of the State Security Service and the district Department of Internal Affairs, he was detained with religious literature and other physical evidence.

During the inspection of the apartment, separately packaged opium with a total weight of 3.75 grams and 5.66 grams of marijuana were found in a plastic box. The investigation documents also note that the defendant had been consuming narcotics during the process of providing religious lessons to the five minors.

During the court hearing, the former imam-khatib admitted that he had been consuming narcotics since 2020. He pleaded guilty and expressed remorse for his actions.

Under part two of Article 229² of the Criminal Code, the defendant was sentenced to a deprivation of the right to hold leadership and responsible positions within the system of the Muslim Board and to engage in religious education activities for a period of two years, along with a two-year restriction of liberty. Under paragraph "a" of part two of Article 276 of the Criminal Code, he was sentenced to three years of deprivation of liberty.

In accordance with Articles 59 and 61 of the Criminal Code, the sentences were partially combined, resulting in a final sentence of 3 years and 6 months of deprivation of liberty. The sentence will be served in an open-prison colony. Additionally, by court verdict, a measure of compulsory treatment for drug addiction in a correctional facility was applied to him.

Appropriate measures were also taken against the parents of the minors who received the illegal religious education, in accordance with current legislation.