Kyrgyzstan to transfer all mosques to Muftiyat’s balance sheet

All mosques in Kyrgyzstan are to be transferred to the balance sheet of the country’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims (Muftiyat) under the new Law on Freedom of Religion and Religious Associations, 24. kg reports, citing the Muftiyat. The process must be completed by February 1, 2027. According to the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (SAMK), 4,470 mosques currently operate in the country. An inventory of religious sites and a review of their documents are under way across all regions, with preliminary results expected before the end of 2026. The Muftiyat said many mosques had been built with donations from local residents, private individuals and sponsors, but their documentation was often incomplete. Some mosques lack land ownership documents, construction permits or commissioning certificates.

In other cases, the designated use of the land does not match its actual use, or ownership of the land and buildings has not been properly registered. The SAMK stressed that the review does not mean mosques will be closed. Its purpose is to bring their documentation into compliance with the law. Under the new legislation, religious sites must be recorded on the balance sheet of the central governing body of the relevant religious organization. If a mosque or its land is privately owned, the transfer requires the owner’s voluntary consent and must follow the legally established procedure. Mosque operating costs, including electricity, heating and other utilities, are largely covered by local communities, sponsors and benefactors rather than the state budget or the Muftiyat’s central funds. What else has changed under the law? The Law on Freedom of Religion and Religious Associations came into force on February 1, 2025, introducing stricter requirements for…