February 28, 2006 – New York – The American Jewish Committee is calling on Tajikistan to halt the demolition of the synagogue in Dushanbe. Concerned about the Jewish community in Dushanbe, AJC issued the following statement today:

Earlier this month the Government of Tajikistan began to dismantle the century-old synagogue serving the Jewish community of Dushanbe. If these steps are not halted, the country’s remaining Jews, many of whom are poor and elderly, will have no place for prayer and communal gatherings. That the synagogue is being demolished in order to make way for the construction of a new presidential residence only adds to the sorrow and anger. At a time when the world grows increasingly aware of the sensitivity of all religions and when places of worship have been attacked by those espousing hatred and intolerance, it is unacceptable that a national government would decree the very same destruction. For the sake of interreligious tolerance, for the sake of the Jewish community of Tajikistan, and for the sake of elemental decency the demolition of Dushnabe’s only synagogue must be stopped.