Keep kids where they belong – On the streets

‘Uzbekistan Bans Children from Mosques on Eid’**

The story is two weeks old, but still informative.

“TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan's government has banned people under the age of 18 from attending regular Friday Prayers or special prayer services at mosques across the country, including the Eid celebrations on September 24 that mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

…

“The Uzbek government frequently expresses concerns about the threat posed by Islamic extremists amid increasing Islamic sentiments in the country.

“Ubaidullo Azimov, a local official in Tashkent, told RFE/RL that the government's position was that ‘children's brains should not be distracted’ from school studies by religion.

“He said the government thinks children should only learn what is taught at school, and that religious studies should take place only after students have finished their high-school studies.”

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/75246

(The headline is misleading, as the story says the government doesn’t want anybody under 18 attending any services.)