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Niginakhon Saida

Niginakhon Saida is a scholar whose research interests focus on gender, Islam, and politics in Central Asia.

Nigina is a graduate of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, where she studied politics and security (Central Asia). She is an adjunct professor at Webster University in Tashkent and teaches political science and sociology related classes. She is also a master’s student at the University of Glasgow in Eurasian studies. Her research interests focus on gender, Islam, and politics in Central Asia. Nigina has a degree in European Studies: Human Rights and Democratization in the Caucasus from Yerevan State University as well.

You can find her on Twitter.

Nigina was a Summer 2022 intern with The Diplomat’s Crossroads Asia section and is now a regular contributor to The Diplomat.

Posts by Niginakhon Saida

September 28, 2023

Measuring the Power and Legitimacy of Uzbekistan’s Islamic Leaders

By Niginakhon Saida

The popularity of religious figures in Uzbekistan is tied to their legitimacy, itself derived from their formal positions within government-affiliated religious institutions.

August 03, 2023

The Hujra Phenomenon: How Do Uzbekistan’s Children Learn About Islam?

By Niginakhon Saida

The apparently increasing number of hujra, clandestine religious classrooms, in Uzbekistan indicates a growing need for formal religious education that is not attainable for many at present.

July 11, 2023

In Uzbekistan, Another Z-Artist’s Concert Canceled

By Niginakhon Saida

Is it over for Russian Z-artists in Central Asia?

July 06, 2023

New Uzbekistan, New Universities, New Problems

By Niginakhon Saida

Reforms in tertiary education have made university degrees more attainable in Uzbekistan, but less valued.

July 05, 2023

The Taliban’s New Canal Threatens Water Security in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

By Niginakhon Saida

As the Taliban rush to complete the Qosh Tepa canal, Central Asia’s water security is at risk.

June 20, 2023

Redeeming Book Culture in Uzbekistan

By Niginakhon Saida

In a new political era, boosted by social media, Uzbekistan’s publishers, translators, and book bloggers see rewarding opportunities amid the challenges.

May 04, 2023

Meet the Women Who Pushed Uzbekistan to Criminalize Domestic Violence

By Niginakhon Saida

These are the women, among many others, who advocated and pushed for Uzbekistan to finally criminalize domestic violence.

April 04, 2023

Civil Society Activists Launch Campaign Against ‘Culture of Violence’ in Tashkent

By Niginakhon Saida

With the support of the country’s mass media foundation, local civil society activists are trying to instill the message that violence against women is not innate to Uzbek culture.

March 31, 2023

Online Bride and Prejudice in Uzbek Society

By Niginakhon Saida and Zukhra Rakhmatullaeva

As matchmatching moves online in Uzbekistan, bigoted preferences are more apparent than ever.

March 14, 2023

Another Uzbek Killed in Ukraine

By Niginakhon Saida

Uzbek migrant workers in Russia, and those serving time in Russian prisons, are particularly vulnerable to recruitment into the Russian military.

March 09, 2023

Central Asians Face Entry Denial at Georgian Border

By Niginakhon Saida

Several Central Asians report being turned away recently at the Georgian border with no detailed explanation.

February 02, 2023

A Gender Perspective on HIV Prevalence in Uzbekistan

By Niginakhon Saida and Sara Scardavilli

Gender inequality and stereotypes, especially in health, education, and command over economic resources, make women more vulnerable to HIV and to other related conditions.