Dushanbe - Government Plans To Destroy City's Only Synagogue

Dushanbe - The chief rabbi of Central Asia and Tajikistan, Abe David Gurevich, met with city officials in Dushanbe in a bid to convince them to reverse plans to destroy or remove the city's only synagogue. Dushanbe's mayor, Mahmadsaid Ubaidullaev, had promised Gurevich "they will not destroy the old synagogue until they build a new one."

Tajik officials have proposed an alternative location for the synagogue. However, Jewish community leaders say no firm offer has been made and that, in any case, they are adamantly opposed to the destruction of the synagogue.

Gurevich, who is based in Uzbekistan, is also seeking a meeting with President Imomali Rakhmonov or one of his close aides.

The city authorities want to clear the site of the 100 year-old synagogue to expand the nearby presidential palace.