Religion and State Relations in Kyrgyzstan: the Debate Posed by Radicalization

Abstract

The recent growth of Islamic radicalization is alarming to the secular part of Kyrgyzstani society. It is pushing local law enforcement to utilize force more frequently in order to tackle this growth of religiosity. Unable to determine the particularities of different religious groups, local police officers often mistake and arrest members of the muslim community for being members of destructive organizations, such as Hizb ut-Tahrir and Jaishul-i-Mahdi, which aim to overthrow secular regimes and build a Caliphate in Central Asia. However, public agents find it hard to draw a line between religiosity and radicalism. The danger is that failing to differentiate these two notions at the state level and continuing to apply overt force in combatting radicalism will increase the growth of radicalism. When a state fails to break the stereotype of radicalization, the resulting uncertainty over the motives of ordinary muslim community members leads them to be socially marginalized and considered as extremists.