Extremism - The Times Of Central Asia

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From Migrant to Militant: Uzbekistan Sentences Jihadist

A district court in Uzbekistan just sentenced a 46-year-old Uzbek citizen, Obid Saparov from Kashkadarya Province, to 16 years in prison for joining the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) militant group and being involved in a 2022 rocket attack on an Uzbek border city. Saparov’s involvement with Islamic militant groups predates the rocket attack by nearly a decade, and the evidence gathered by investigators offers a rare and fascinating look at this Uzbek citizen’s journey into jihadism. From Migrant Laborer to Islamic Militant The beginnings of Saparov’s radicalization are a common story for hundreds of Central Asian citizens who joined militant groups in the Middle East or Afghanistan. Saparov went to Ufa, Russia, as a migrant laborer in June 2013. He found audio and video material on the internet produced by extremist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Turkestan and the “Jihodchilar” (“Jihadists). Saparov came into contact with members of the Jihadists in Ufa and in August 2013 left Russia for Baku, and from there went to Zahedan, Iran, and in March 2014 crossed into Afghanistan and eventually reached the town of Mirali in Waziristan, Pakistan. There, according to Uzbek media reports, he joined the Islamic Movement of Turkestan. The name of this group is interesting because in a kun.uz report, it mentions that when Saparov was in Ufa, some of the extremist material he found online was based on the ideas of Tohir Yuldash. Yuldash helped found the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) terrorist organization and led the group until he was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan in August 2009. The IMU aimed to overthrow the Uzbek government and staged armed incursions into Uzbekistan in 1999 and 2000. The IMU were allies of the Taliban and were in Afghanistan when the U.S.-led military operations started in late 2001. The IMU suffered heavy losses, and the remnants of the group, including Yuldash, fled across the border into Pakistan. Ten Years of Militancy Saparov underwent training at camps in Pakistan after he arrived, and later worked in a militant “supply center.” According to the Uzbek media reports, the Islamic Movement of Turkestan splintered at the start of 2016, and Saparov joined a militant group from the Islamic State that was operating in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. The IMU was still based in Pakistan in August 2015 when its leader, Usman Ghazi, swore an oath to the Islamic State, and the IMU split. Part of the IMU followed Ghazi into Afghanistan (where most were killed in fighting in Zabul and Herat provinces), and most of the others went into northeastern Afghanistan. However, the ISKP did have a presence in Jalalabad that lasted until after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Uzbek investigators said Saparov joined the ISKP and was with the group from 2016 to 2024. Saparov was involved in staging attacks in Jalalabad, Kunduz, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kabul. Saparov’s group fought against the Afghan government and foreign troops, and against the Taliban. Saparov was also engaged in...

Extremism President Rahmon Social Media criminal penalties

Tajikistan Lifts Criminal Penalties for Social Media Likes on ‘Extremist’ Content

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has signed a new law eliminating criminal penalties for liking or reacting to social media posts classified as extremist or threatening to public order. The president’s press office announced the amendment, which revokes part of a 2018 change to the Criminal Code. Previously, individuals could face prison sentences of 10 to 15 years for openly promoting or supporting purported terrorism or terrorist acts online. Under this legislation, more than 1,500 people have been convicted in Tajikistan, many for merely liking or commenting on posts the government deemed extremist. A significant number of those affected were believed to be affiliated with opposition groups. It remains unclear whether the new law will result in the release of individuals already imprisoned under the previous statute. However, lawyer Dilshod Jurayev told Radio Ozodi that those convicted may now have grounds to appeal their sentences. Regional Context In neighboring Uzbekistan, social media users still face the possibility of legal consequences for engaging with prohibited content if investigators or courts determine that liking such material constitutes distribution. Uzbekistan’s Agency for Information and Mass Communications (AIMC) has cautioned the public against spreading false information. The agency emphasized that engaging with posts containing fake news, disinformation, or extremist content could result in administrative or criminal penalties. “There is administrative and criminal liability for spreading false or harmful information,” the AIMC stated. “Before you share anything, make sure it comes from a trusted, official source.”

Extremism President Tokayev Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan Ethnic Diversity

Tokayev Warns of Rising Extremism and Erosion of Global Norms at Assembly Speech

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has warned of a global resurgence of extremist ideologies and populist rhetoric, citing a crisis of confidence that has weakened international law and institutions. Speaking at the 34th session of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK), Tokayev addressed both foreign and domestic challenges facing the country, while emphasizing the importance of national unity and interethnic harmony. “We have become a more modern and advanced society. This evolution places new demands on our model of social harmony. Methods that worked yesterday may no longer be applicable today,” Tokayev said in his address, urging a critical review of past achievements and failures to avoid regression. Highlighting Kazakhstan’s foundational principles, Tokayev reaffirmed that “consent, tolerance, and friendship” are not mere slogans but integral to daily life. “The politicization of interethnic and interfaith relations is unacceptable. The state guarantees justice and equal opportunity for all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or social status,” he stressed. He also condemned attempts to impose language norms in personal and public communication. “Everyone is equal before the law. We will decisively suppress any provocation aimed at undermining interethnic harmony, no matter the source,” Tokayev stated. He accused some foreign-funded organizations, bloggers, and former citizens living abroad of deliberately inciting discord under the guise of promoting human rights and freedom of speech. According to Tokayev, recent revelations concerning the operations of some foreign NGOs exposed their “cynicism, greed, and indifference” to Kazakhstan’s welfare. On foreign policy, Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s strategic alliance with Russia and historical ties with China. He expressed concern over the global retreat into extremism and the weakening of key institutions. “There is a return to extremist ideologies and populism, a surge in radical rhetoric, and an erosion of international law. In this context, Kazakhstan continues to advocate for adherence to and reform of the UN Charter,” he said. Tokayev stressed the need for global unity, compromise, and mutual understanding to prevent chaos. “For some, ethnic diversity may be a source of risk and mistrust. For us, it is a national asset and strategic advantage,” he said. “Unity, dialogue, mutual trust, and civic responsibility are essential pillars for the sustainable progress of our nation.”

Sports Federations Kazakhstan Extremism Prevention

Kazakhstan Mandates Sports Federations to Help Detect Extremism

Sports federations in Kazakhstan will now be required to assist in preventing extremism and terrorism, under new provisions in the updated Law “On Physical Culture and Sport.” The amendment stems from concerns over the growing influence of religious movements in the sports environment, according to Vice-Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Senate session, Zharasbayev explained that the measure is being implemented in cooperation with the National Security Committee. “This provision was introduced in collaboration with the National Security Committee due to the need to address emerging risks. We are working within the framework of the Anti-Terrorist Center and have already developed a roadmap through 2027,” he said. Previously, sports federations were not involved in national security matters, but Zharasbayev stated that “the time has come” for them to take part in identifying potential threats and reporting relevant information to state authorities. Currently, the focus is strictly on preventive measures. In April, specialists from the Anti-Terrorist Center will begin traveling to the regions to provide detailed briefings on the new requirements. “By the end of April or early May, we’ll meet with all federations to clarify these norms. For now, it's solely about prevention,” he added. The government also plans to involve theologians with experience in countering extremist ideologies as part of the outreach. The urgency of the issue was underscored by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the fourth session of the National Kurultai in Burabay in early March. “Mazhilis deputy Yermurat Bapi has raised concerns about the country’s religious climate. Kurultai members Daniya Kydyrbayeva and Olzhas Suleimen have also noted the growing influence of non-traditional religious movements among youth, especially in the sports sector,” Tokayev said. He reaffirmed that while freedom of religion is constitutionally protected, “disorder and permissiveness are unacceptable.” The president called for preventing destructive ideologies and using regulatory frameworks to promote national unity. The new obligation for sports federations is part of a broader legislative package recently passed by the Senate in two readings. According to Deputy Asem Rakhmetova, the amendments aim to improve legal frameworks in the field of physical culture and sports, while also clarifying the division of powers between central and local executive bodies as part of ongoing administrative reforms. In total, the bill modifies two codes and five laws. Similar concerns have arisen outside Kazakhstan. In Russia, State Duma deputy Sergei Mironov recently requested that the Prosecutor General’s Office investigate MMA clubs for possible links to radical groups. He warned that the “uncontrolled functioning” of such organizations could pose a threat to state security, citing reports that terrorists involved in the Crocus City Hall attack had trained at one such club. Kazakhstan’s sports organizations are now being tasked with responsibilities beyond their traditional scope. As Zharasbayev put it, “Federations must pay attention to such risks”, and this is no longer optional, but a formal obligation under the law.

Regional Security Public Security Extremism Crime Islam

Kyrgyzstan Cracks Down on Major Religious Extremist Organization

In Jalal-Abad, officers of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (SCNS) neutralized one of the largest structural networks of the banned religious extremist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir. According to the SCNS press service, 22 active members of the organization were detained, including the leader (“masul”), five spiritual leaders (“nakibs”), and eight teachers (“mushrifs”) who taught extremist ideology to small groups of 3-5 students in clandestine settings. The SCNS reported that the detainees had been actively spreading destructive ideas, recruiting supporters, and distributing extremist materials for several years. During the operation, authorities discovered an underground printing house where extremist materials were being produced. A large cache of literature, as well as computers and copying equipment, was seized. The SCNS also noted that members of the network used drones to ensure the security of their meetings by detecting possible surveillance by law enforcement agencies. The detainees are currently being held in the SCNS detention center, and investigations are ongoing to identify additional members of the network and their activities. Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international religious extremist organization banned in Kyrgyzstan since 2003. Its goal is to establish a global Islamic caliphate by overthrowing secular governments. The organization is particularly active in Kyrgyzstan's southern regions, where it promotes extremist ideology and recruits new members. Kyrgyz authorities have been proactive in combating Hizb ut-Tahrir, regularly detaining its members and working to suppress its activities.

ISIS Jihadism U.S. International Cooperation Extremism Syria

West Monitors Syria for Plans of Jihadis, Some From Central Asia

Some counterterrorism experts in the West are assessing whether the ouster of Bashar Assad´s regime in Syria will lead to a recalibration of the Islamic militant groups that opposed him, some of which include especially hardline recruits from Central Asia. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Syrian group that led an offensive into Aleppo and Damascus and forced Assad to flee in a span of two weeks, is trying to turn to governance with a relatively moderate image even though it was associated with Al-Qaeda earlier in the Syrian civil war and is labeled a terrorist organization on some Western lists. It’s too early to say whether HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani will stick to a message of tolerance or can make it work in a fractured country with gutted institutions, but there are signs that some jihadis object to his message of inclusiveness. “Many of them are Central Asians and they may look to go somewhere else. I think we’re inevitably going to see a certain amount of splintering from what happens in Syria,” said Colin Clarke, a terrorism researcher and author of After the Caliphate. At an Atlantic Council event in Washington on Wednesday, Clarke said there is an “interplay” between religious extremism in Afghanistan and Syria, and that a number of groups with Central Asian members have those connections. Clarke said he will be watching to see whether the connections grow following Assad’s abrupt exit after more than two decades in power. Some estimates put the number of Islamic militants who have traveled from Central Asia to Syria and Iraq over the years at around several thousand, though the figures vary and are difficult to confirm. Many joined the Islamic State group, which was defeated in Iraq and is much diminished in Syria although the U.S. recently carried out air strikes to prevent any resurgence by the group amid Syria’s current upheaval. One jihadist group with Central Asia links that collaborated with HTS in the successful campaign against Assad is Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad, designated a terror group by the U.S. State Department in 2022. The group carried out a Saint Petersburg, Russia metro attack in 2017 that killed 14 passengers and injured 50 others, as well as a suicide car bombing of the Chinese embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in 2016 that injured three people, according to the U.S. Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad is comprised mainly of Uzbek, Tajik and Kyrgyz combatants, according to Daniele Garofalo Monitoring, which traces jihadist propaganda and military activity. There are an estimated 400-500 fighters in the group. Another HTS ally is Katibat Mujaheddin Ghuroba Division, which has between 200 and 400 fighters, according to the Garofalo site. Many are Uzbeks, Tajiks and Uyghurs, though the group also has Arab militants. There is also Jaysh al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar, which dates to the early stages of the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. The jihadist group is believed to have 400-500 fighters, mostly Chechens, Tajiks, Dagestanis, Azerbaijanis, Kazakhs and Ukrainians, as well as...