Caught between the Muslim community and the state: The role of the local Uzbek authorities in Ferghana Valley, 1950s–1980s1

Abstract

This paper focuses on local authorities in Soviet Uzbekistan and their role in anti-religious policy implementation, as well as on their position in local Muslim communities. Islam has always played a specific, major role in Central Asia. Sovietization policies applied from 1920s onwards attempted to change local society by eradicating Islam, and other religions, from public life, and local authorities were assigned a significant role in this process. On deeper examination, however, it appears that these programs were largely ineffective, and their scale and impact demand further scrutiny. I argue that while local authorities were an extension of the Soviet system that, among other things, disseminated atheistic propaganda and intended to control and to ultimately destroy religious life, their loyalties often rested with their Muslim communities. Furthermore, I argue that the behaviour of local authorities hampered the successful implementation of Soviet anti-religious policies and efforts to control Islam in many respects. I believe that a sound analysis of this issue will lead us to a better understanding of the position of Islam in Soviet Central Asia, as well as helping to understand the ongoing issues surrounding tradition, religion and Islamism in the region today. This paper is based on materials from the National Archive of the Russian Federation, ethnographic data from the Ferghana Valley, and other published materials.