Islam in Central Asia

Islamic practices in Uzbekistan, after enduring seven decades of Soviet-imposed atheism, are now being increasingly adopted by the younger generation. 

As Central Asian governments tighten restrictions on the hijab in the name of upholding secularism, devout Muslim women find themselves forced to navigate an increasingly difficult choice between their faith and the law.

As Islamic practices rise in Uzbekistan, authorities do their best to maintain a secular public sphere.

As the next school year approaches, it seems some officials are trying to pressure teachers and students to uncover. It’s a violation of their rights. 

If enacted, a new draft law will add fines and possible jail time for parents that seek illegal Islamic education for their children. 

The overwhelmingly authoritarian governments in Central Asia have utilized severe repression against Islamist movements – extremist or not.

As long as people have limited opportunities in the socioeconomic and political arenas, and adherence to a religious lifestyle is restricted, pilgrimages will remain as an accessible means of self-fulfillment. 

Solidarity with and concerns about Palestine are not a new development among Uzbeks, but there have been a variety of responses to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Journalists, influencers, and religious teachers are using social media to inform Central Asians about the Israel-Hamas war.

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

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.

A new wave of arrests in Uzbekistan have centered on religious lectures, songs, and social media posts, calling up memories of the not-so-distant Karimov era.

The international community, in seeking to pursue cooperation in the region, ought to look to Muslim women as a vital set of partners.

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

Although Islam has been a part of Turkmen culture for centuries, public practice of Islam was largely suppressed during the Soviet Union and in the early independence era, too.

The Justice Ministry is alarmed about religious figures whose teachings blur the line between religion, their personal moral views, and the law.

With a series of recent arrests, it seems Uzbek authorities believe that Syria remains an attractive destination for prospective fighters.

A newly introduced weekly program on a Kazakh state TV channel has sparked sharp public criticism and a campaign against its host – Mukhamedzhan Tazabek.

The president of Uzbekistan reacted with new appointment and policy changes following the latest beard-shaving raids.

Kyrgyz authorities profess a separation of state and religion while also paradoxically preferring one version of Islam.

As Uzbekistan opens to the world, its many important religious sites can form the base of a tourism boom.

Uzbekistan defines the tolerance level in free speech and reveals its fear of conservative Islam.

The arrests cast a pall on Uzbekistan's reform efforts and illustrate the boundaries of Tashkent's tolerance for debate.

Some Kyrgyz people believe that Nooruz collides with Muslim values, but the vast majority still celebrate anyway.