Uzbekistan eyes future as centre of Islamic culture
TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan is taking steps to solidify its reputation as a centre of Islamic culture and education as part of enhanced efforts to combat extremism among youth.
Uzbekistani President Shavkat Mirziyoyev last month urged "collaborative work" among elders, mahallas (neighbourhood associations), police inspectors, imam-khatibs and religious education consultants to prevent youth radicalisation.
"We must strengthen peace and stability in the country in every possible way and step up our fight against various security threats," he told parliament on December 23, as reported by 1news.uz.
Promoting Islamic education, culture
One way the government plans to prevent radicalism is through the promotion of Uzbekistan as a centre of Islamic culture and education.
These efforts appear to be gaining momentum.
The construction of a facility for the Centre for Islamic Civilisation in Tashkent is under way, and the city of Bukhara is preparing to serve as the world capital of Islamic culture in 2020 for the Asian Region.
Tashkent in 2007 held the same title, which is designated annually by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in Rabat, Morocco. Every year the organisation selects three world capitals of Islamic culture.
"The fact that [Bukhara] was granted recognition as a capital of Islamic culture ... affirms the distinguished contributions made by the city and its scholars to the development of Islamic civilisation," said Azamjon Abdurakhmonov, a teacher at Tashkent Islamic University, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Uzbekistan (DUMU) press office reported January 6.
Another effort aimed at raising Uzbekistan's status as a centre for Islamic culture is a nationwide Koran recitation competition.
Registration for the competition, organised by the DUMU, closed on January 15 with 5,000 applicants from across the country, as Regnum.ru reported.
Mufti Usmonkhon Alimov, head of the DUMU, called for the contest to take place at a highly professional level, and said that in the future it could become a springboard for Uzbekistan to host international Koran recitation contests.
The contest will be held progressively at the district, provincial and national levels, with the final competition scheduled in April.
Film industry, mosques join fight against extremism
Cinema can also be used to help combat extremism, including a movie being made about the 9th-century Islamic scholar and Bukhara native Imam al-Bukhari, according to Mirziyoyev.
Uzbekistani film director Rustam Sagdiyev has begun working on a two-part film about Imam al-Bukhari, Anhor.uz reported January 12. The government will finance the movie, and producers are planning to screen the film worldwide.
"If we need to, we will buy the most modern [film] equipment in Hollywood," Sagdiyev told Anhor.uz. "We'll invite international movie stars to appear in it."
Films about Islamic scholars can be broadcast in mosques and serve as an educational tool, the president said, according to the DUMU press office.
"Nowadays, when the struggle among ideas and ideologies to capture people's consciousness and worldview, especially those of young people, is intensifying around the world, we need to efficiently use the tremendous potential of the most mainstream form of art," Mirziyoyev December 29 said during a Tashkent meeting with representatives from the film industry.
"Imam al-Bukhari ... is one of the most famous Islamic scholars and collectors of hadiths," Otabek Mamarasulov, a regular attendee of the Minor Mosque in Tashkent, told Caravanserai.
"If Uzbekistan continues to promote its heritage, then more and more pilgrims will come here, and more and more Muslims will discover the true face of the country and contribute to mutual understanding," he said.
"The DUMU is planning to organise a small pilgrimage for Muslims from various countries, so they can visit Bukhara and places associated with Imam al-Bukhari," he said.
Rehabilitation of former extremists continues
Uzbekistan is also increasing the scope of its work on rehabilitating extremists who have served their prison sentences.
"We will continue improving the work done on social rehabilitation and helping those who have succumbed to the influence of extremist ideas return to a normal, healthy way of life," Mirziyoyev said December 23.
Caravanserai reported last October that Uzbekistan released or removed 16,000 former extremists from blacklists.
Among them were several notorious figures, including Zakhid Yuldashev, the brother of Takhir Yuldashev, the late founder of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). He was released last October after serving a 23-year prison sentence, a move made public on January 10.
"Uzbekistan is developing a system for rehabilitating former extremists," Amir Fayzullayev, an employee of the Yangi Khaet mahalla in Tashkent, told Caravanserai.
"This will be based on a presidential decree that explains all the specifics of work with such persons," he said. "Mahalla elders, the Union of Youth or the [national] Women's Committee will be responsible for [rehabilitating the former extremists]. Systematic work will be carried out."
The details of the decree are expected to be ready by June, he said.
Close friendship relationships are strengthening.
Uzbek and Kyrgyz people have been living shoulder to shoulder for centuries. The root of these nations is the same. They lived in peace by exchanging in marriages.
Two great writers and state figures Chingiz Aytmatov and Sharof Rashidov were close friends.
After acquiring independence, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan established diplomatic relations. In 1992 Kyrgyzstan opened its embassy, while Uzbekistan opened its embassy in Bishkek in 1998. In 1996 two countries signed “Agreement on Eternal Friendship” which became legal basis for the relationship for two countries. 181 official documents had been signed until 2005.
But the issue of using trans-border rivers has lately caused misunderstanding between two countries.
Nowadays these two countries which have missed previous ties are renovating their relationships now. Sooranbay Jeenbekov, President of Kyrgyzstan paid an official visit to Uzbekistan.
“Kyrgyzstan is our close neighbor. That’s why there should not be any border between us. We opened our hearts to each other and for this reason we need to solve any issue”, said President of Uzbekistan.
In its turn, Sooronbay Jeenbekov expressed deep gratitude to Shavkat for the invitation and on behalf of people conveyed deep respect. President of Kyrgyzstan highly evaluated the efforts of Shavkat Mirziyoyev by saying: “You have turned our borders into real friendship, good neighborhood and partnership borders.”
Uzbekistan’s foreign policy highlights the importance of development successful relationships with neighbors. It has lately been observed an active integration process among Central Asian countries. Particularly, relations with Kyrgyzstan are leveling up. Visits between governmental bodies are widening.
During the meeting President Jeenbekov stressed his support for the President Mirziyoyev’s initiative for organizing constant advisory meetings with Central Asian leaders.
It is meaningful here to mention the participation of Maksatbek Toktomeshov, Muftiy of Kyrgyzstan at the International Scientific-practical conference called “Islamic solidarity in the example of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan” which was hosted by Uzbekistan in Tashkent on October 18th of the current year. Muftiy of Kyrgyzstan Maksatbek Toktomeshov:
- We, most of the participants of the conference, recognized each other, because our administrative office was the same before. Our fathers and grandfathers studied in this land in Tashkent and Bukhara. We are planning to open new religious institutions in our country, but for the time being we have to use educational establishments in Uzbekistan as this country has great religious knowledge and experience. I was thinking about this during the conference. The conference has become a great step forward for improving our warm relationships.
The visit of President of Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan will bring our relationships into new level. For this reason people of both countries are observing with great positive hopes.
Press service,
Muslim Board of Uzbekistan