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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

January 20, 2023

Uzbekistan’s Drawn-out Journey From Cyrillic to Latin Script

By Niginakhon Saida

Visit Uzbekistan and you’ll see a variety of alphabets used, a product of the country’s many changes and the long march toward fully using a Latin script.

November 29, 2022

Abortion in Uzbekistan: Legal, Accessible, Declining

By Niginakhon Saida

Abortion in Uzbekistan has never been politicized as it has been in the West, but terminating a pregnancy is still becoming less common.

October 26, 2022

For Sale: Uzbek Babies, Never Parented.

By Niginakhon Saida

“Shame” culture and poverty are forcing some Uzbek women to sell their newborns for pennies and purity.

October 21, 2022

To Deepen Relations With Uzbekistan, Turkey Leans on Cultural Appeal

By Niginakhon Saida

Amid a rapid rapprochement, Ankara has relied on soft power in Uzbekistan by strengthening cultural ties in language and education opportunities. But is it enough?

September 15, 2022

Uzbekistan’s Looted Museums and Forged Artifacts

By Niginakhon Saida

As New Uzbekistan aims to attract more tourists, local museums are finally receiving long-due attention, including in regard to stolen artifacts.

August 25, 2022

Uzbekistan’s Islamic Revival, Online

By Niginakhon Saida

The content of state-sanctioned Islam conveyed online does not differ from what is published in books, but the delivery makes a difference.

August 09, 2022

Closing the Gender Gap in Uzbekistan’s Universities

By Niginakhon bintu Saida

President Mirziyoyev’s new government is taking measures to close the gender gap in the country's education sector as the higher education system goes through major changes.

July 27, 2022

Uzbekistan’s Religious Figures React to Karakalpakstan Unrest

By Niginakhon bintu Saida

Given the increasingly prominent role of Islam in Uzbekistan's society, Muslim leaders felt it necessary to chime in on the recent protests.

June 22, 2022

A Cycle of Perpetual Violence for the Women of Uzbekistan

By Niginakhon bintu Saida

Domestic violence has traditionally been viewed as a “family matter” in Uzbekistan, but the power dynamics are starting to change.

June 16, 2022

Central Asia’s Shadow Pandemic: Violence Against Women

By Niginakhon Uralova and Svetlana Dzardanova

Restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 inadvertently sparked a rise in violence against women and girls in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

May 26, 2022

The Language of the China-Russia Soft Power Rivalry in Uzbekistan

By Niginakhon Uralova

The China-Russia soft power rivalry in Uzbekistan plays out most clearly via language and education programs.

February 18, 2022

Uzbekistan’s Second Wives Marry in Secret and Suffer Without Legal Protections

By Niginakhon Uralova

Polygyny is not legal in Uzbekistan, yet some men seek out second wives anyway.