As I am currently based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and working on issues of religion and politics (with the Tajikistan Dialogue Project), I couldn't resist sharing with you the following Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty articles. The first and most recent piece is titled, "Tajik Women, Young People Appear to be Embracing Islam." Farangis Najibullah questions whether Tajik youth are becoming increasingly religious "despite efforts by the authorities to hinder women who follow Islamic customs." It is hard to find clear answers to questions that relate to whether the population as a whole is becoming more religious. The reason the international community now asks this question is the underlying concern that Tajikistan is becoming a center for radicalism and extremism , with the possibility that Tajik youth will even be attracted to commit acts of terrorism at home or abroad.
Today, the OSCE Office in Dushanbe held its "Preparatory Human Dimension Implementation Meeting," before the main annual OSCE Human Dimension meeting, which will be held in Warsaw from September 29 to October 10. 56 states will participate in the Implementation Meeting in Poland. The final topic for today at Dushanbe's Preparatory Meeting was the Prevention of Radicalism and the participants heard from a representative of the Ministry of the Interior and Mr. Muhammadnazar, who represented the Tajikistan Dialogue Project. The Dialogue Project aims to bring together the secular and religious forces in Tajikistan to work on practical cooperation projects. The main idea from today's discussion about radicalism was that religious radicalism is over estimated because there are other forms of radicalism as well , including government radicalism and extremist secularism. Another main topic that was addressed in several comments was the right of Muslims in Tajikistan to wear religious clothing in public spaces such as schools and offices. The RFE/RL article discusses the outlawing of hejab in schools and universities, although there are other prohibitions such as young men being prevented from having beards in school or wearing prayer caps. If in fact the younger generation is becoming more religious, restricting these cultural traditions or symbols of piety may be dangerous for the government apparatus. Today, the sentiment was expressed that if the government prevents religious dress, this should also be viewed as radicalism , particularly if it prevents girls from getting a primary school education.
The second RFE/RL article is by Gulnoza Saidazimova and titled "Tajik Government Concerned by Increasing Growth of Salafism." The government representative today at the OSCE Meeting raised concerns about Hizbut-Tahrir and radicalism, while participants voiced their anxieties about the increase in followers of the "Salafi" way of thinking. The article claims that there are 20,000 salafis in Tajikistan. From my understanding, they do not have the right to register their own mosques officially , therefore, their growing numbers remain visible in other mosques throughout the country. They are noticeable on account of their different style in saying the daily prayers and way of dressing. The main question, though, is whether Salafis are associated with Wahhabis or if using these two terms interchangeably would be a mistake. Many Tajiks believe that you receive $200 if you become a Salafi but only on condition that you bring other people into the fold with you. It is also alleged that you get money for distributing Salafi material on the streets.
To conclude today's blog that only briefly touches on the vast and growing social problem of radicalism in Tajikistan (and the world), I will quote a question that was asked during the OSCE meeting: Do we as a society invite the idea of radicalism because we don't know whom and what we are fighting against?
-It is particularly on September 11 that we remember the victims of radical ideologies.
