Tolkun Namatbayeva, Vitaly Volkov - DW-WORLD.DE
Presidential elections must be held in Kyrgyzstan on July 23. Elections will be held amid difficult social-economic situation and critical fight between authority and opposition groups. What role does Islamic factor play?
Interest in Islam strengthens after acquiring independence in Kyrgyzstan within all years. Both local and western experts agree in it. Politicization and radicalization is evident in Muslim community recently.
Islamic factor and good conscience
Candidate for President Nurlan Motuyev openly uses Islamic factor. He organized Real Muslims Union one of these days. According to avowed purposes, this union will propagandize religious education of young generation, call all state employees for moral clarification, bring them out into the open and call them for ceasing stealing. Nurlan Motuyev states that members of his organization will not bargain and keep asking for positions but will work for good conscience and welfare of motherland.Nurlan Motuyev repeatedly organized anti U.S and anti Israeli actions in Bishkek.
Other candidate for president, current president Kurmanbek Bakiyev operates differently. He contributed funds for construction of a new central mosque in Bishkek. Presidents make this gesture first time in Kyrgyzstan.
Presently, factor of Islam is not represented distinct in pre-election campaign. Islam is not object of policy in the Republic but it can be with time. There are preconditions and the first attempts to work with Muslim community, Independent research analytical center of religion, law and policy director Kadir Malikov said in his interview with Deutsche Welle.
Politicians did not determine whether Islam poses them threat.
Major problem at this stage is that the state did not determine whether Islam is aid or threat. But lack of attention to Islamic energy can generate increase of protest potential of Muslim community, deputy director of this center Esen Usubaliyev said in his interview with Deutsche Welle.
Presently, notion Islamism is bad prevails in the state, expert said. Kyrgyz sphere can be divided into two categories: Kyrgyz people admitting religion traditionally and those for whom religion determines system of world outlook reference points. Presently, active processes, including political develop in Muslim community.
So, the state needs this political tension to redirect to social course, for example, development of social projects. Islamism is not threat for society. Radicalization, lack of attention to hopes and requirements of Muslim community are threat for society. Radical mood having no way in social sphere are threat, Esen Usubaliyev said.
Muslims are ready electorate
All Muslims practicing Islam daily represent ready electorate. If a leader, a group of MPs, a party promises to realize any components of Muslim managing, for example, promises down to introduction of Shariat legal procedure or Shariat laws, it will be supported. I think footsie in this field is dangerous," Usubaliyev said.
Besides Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Ak Shumkar opposition party leader Temir Sariyev contributed for construction of a new mosque. In his turn, social-democratic party head Almaz Atambayev is the only person among opposition candidates who defends residents of Nookat accused of organization in mass disorders at Muslim holiday in autumn 2008 and imprisoned for big term.
Disorders happened on October 1, 2008 in Nookat region. Citizens celebrated Muslim holiday Orozo-ayt all over Kyrgyzstan that day. Only local authorities suddenly banned people to gather at stadium or square in Nookat region of Osh district. As a sign of protest residents appeared at spontaneous meeting in front of region state administration outgrown on disorders. Roughly 100 people were detained, 32 were condemned guilty in organizing mass disorders and belonging to forbidden religious-extremist party Hizb-ut-Tahrir.
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