ERBIL, Kurdistan – Attendance at Quranic schools, religious centers and mosques has declined in the Kurdistan Region, according to an official at the ministry of religious affairs.
“Less learners have these days been seen visiting the Quran learning centers,” Mariwan Naqshbandi, spokesperson of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs at the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), told Rudaw
He said that attendance at centers where students learn the Quran has declined by about 70 percent, and that the number of people visiting mosques and other religious centers has dropped by some 20 percent.
"Not only the Quran centers, but also the number of people visiting religious places has declined -- including mosques -- since government security agencies have had them under surveillance,” Naqshbandi claimed.
He said attendance also was down because of Kurdistan’s war with the Islamic State (ISIS) group, and due to an economic crisis that has affected people’s spending on everything.
Since 2010, Naqshbandi’s ministry has granted permits for 71 Quran learning centers across the region. These are usually opened and maintained by philanthropists.
But Omer Rashid, from the Islamic Movement Party in Kurdistan, said that while attendance may have been down at schools permitted by the ministry, there was still keen interest among students at Quran learning centers operated by religious parties.
"Many Quran learning centers were opened by political parties and non-governmental organizations," Rashid said.
Kurdistan’s war with ISIS appears to have had a mixed impact on the population.
There are reports that among Kurdistan’s predominantly Muslim population, some people are leaving the religion and converting to other faiths.
And at this year’s Erbil International Book Fair – a 10-day affair that closed on Monday – there was keen interest among visitors on Islamic books, which dominated the exhibition. Vendors said that religious books were selling most.
“Less learners have these days been seen visiting the Quran learning centers,” Mariwan Naqshbandi, spokesperson of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs at the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), told Rudaw
He said that attendance at centers where students learn the Quran has declined by about 70 percent, and that the number of people visiting mosques and other religious centers has dropped by some 20 percent.
"Not only the Quran centers, but also the number of people visiting religious places has declined -- including mosques -- since government security agencies have had them under surveillance,” Naqshbandi claimed.
He said attendance also was down because of Kurdistan’s war with the Islamic State (ISIS) group, and due to an economic crisis that has affected people’s spending on everything.
Since 2010, Naqshbandi’s ministry has granted permits for 71 Quran learning centers across the region. These are usually opened and maintained by philanthropists.
But Omer Rashid, from the Islamic Movement Party in Kurdistan, said that while attendance may have been down at schools permitted by the ministry, there was still keen interest among students at Quran learning centers operated by religious parties.
"Many Quran learning centers were opened by political parties and non-governmental organizations," Rashid said.
Kurdistan’s war with ISIS appears to have had a mixed impact on the population.
There are reports that among Kurdistan’s predominantly Muslim population, some people are leaving the religion and converting to other faiths.
And at this year’s Erbil International Book Fair – a 10-day affair that closed on Monday – there was keen interest among visitors on Islamic books, which dominated the exhibition. Vendors said that religious books were selling most.
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