Tajiks Skeptical That Attack On Top Islamic Leader Was ‘Hooliganism’

Thu Sep 19 07:27:34 UTC 2024: ## Tajik Islamic Leader Stabbed in Mosque, Motive Unclear

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Saidmukarram Abdulqodirzoda, the head of Tajikistan’s state-backed Ulema Council, was stabbed in the head during Friday prayers at the central mosque in Dushanbe last week. While authorities claim the attack was an act of “hooliganism” and the perpetrator is in custody, many Tajiks are skeptical.

The assault comes amidst growing criticism of the Ulema Council’s close ties to the government and its support for increasingly restrictive religious policies. Recent edicts by the council, including a ban on “alien” garments, often perceived as the Islamic hijab, have sparked widespread discontent among the Tajik Muslim population.

“Tajik society sees the mufti as a government official, not a religious leader,” said Muhamadjon Kabirov, chief editor of the Tajik-language news website AzdaTV. “People believe that his aim is not to defend citizens’ religious liberty, but to promote the government’s policies, which include undermining people’s religious traditions.”

While the authorities have remained tight-lipped about the attacker’s motives and identity, many speculate that the assault is linked to Abdulqodirzoda’s controversial role in supporting government policies perceived as restricting religious freedom.

Despite the attack, the council and its chief have been vocal supporters of the government’s agenda, including its crackdown on Islamic clothing and its promotion of a “moderate” interpretation of Islam. This has led to accusations that the Ulema Council acts more as a mouthpiece for the government than a genuine representative of the country’s Muslim population.

The incident highlights the increasingly tense situation in Tajikistan regarding religious freedom and the government’s efforts to control religious expression. While authorities maintain that the attack was an isolated act of violence, many Tajiks remain skeptical and concerned about the rising tension surrounding religious matters in the country.

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