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| Jihad Land: Uzbekistan | |
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Synopsis |
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This
is the land of Imam Bukhari, the great scholar of Hadith. It is
also the land of Timur, the great conqueror, and the land of countless
Islamic scholars and scientists. This is the region from where the
light of Islam reached billions - the land of Uzbekistan
- home of the famous cities of Bukhara and Samarkand, and the link
between East and West. |
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Uzbekistan is presently ruled by one of the 'most repressive governments' in Central Asia*, a government which is responsible not only for the disappearance of 50,000 Muslims since 1994, but also for thousands of documented arrests, systematic torture, repression, and the killing of innocent Muslims. Having a beard, wearing the Hijab, studying the Quran and propagating the teachings of Islam in this land, are now viewed as criminal acts, deserving of prison or even execution. |
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(*Source: CSCE News Release, Oct. 18, 1999: link to complete article: http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/uzbekistan/links/uzhr10199.html) |
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| Uzbekistan's strategic geographic location in Central
Asia has, throughout history, made it a magnet for invasions - and
it remains a target to this day. With Afghanistan (137 km border) and Tajikistan (1,161 km border) on its south, bordering with Kazakhstan (2,203 km) on its north, Turkmenistan (1,621 km) on the west, and Kyrgizstan (1,099 km) on the east, Uzbekistan serves as the link between the East and the West. |
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Including the southern portion of
the drying Aral Sea (420 km shoreline) on the west, the region of
modern-day Uzbekistan is located between two rivers, the Amu Darya
to the north, and the Syr Darya to the south. Historically, this
region has also been called 'Mawaraunnahr' or 'what is beyond the
river'. Highways, most prominently the 'Silk Route' link it to its
neighbours in the east and west. |
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Four-fifths of the region is flat, with the highest mountains located in the east (highest peak 4299 m / 14,104 ft), and hills to the south-east. The eastern region of Uzbekistan, the Fargana Valley, is a fertile plain extending into Tajikistan and Kyrgizstan, and is surrounded by mountains. The climate is dry and continental with low rainfall. Average temperatures range from -12C in Jan. to 32-40C in July. |
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Major cities are the historical cities of Bukhara, Samarkand, and Tashkent, with Tashkent being the capital. Whilst attempts are being made to systematically remove true Islamic character from the people, the historically significant buildings and architecture of these cities continue to bear witness to their rich Islamic heritage. These cities have historically served as major centers of trade and enlightenment on the crossroads of the Great Silk Road linking the civilizations of the East and the West. However, today, economic downfall and repression are trademarks of these once-magnificent cities. (Statistics and figures taken from Uzbekistan Government's web site www.uzbekistan.org/geninfo.htm or from the CIA factbook: http://geography.about.com/science/geography/library/cia/blcuzbekistan.htm) |
| With a population of 22,467,300
people, Uzbekistan is the most populous of the five Central Asian
former Soviet republics, its population being more than 40% of the
combined population of the other four. Major ethnic groups include
Uzbek (71%), Russian (8%), Tajik (5%), and Kazakh (4%). (Source: www.uzbekistan.org/geninfo.htm) |
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The people are predominantly Sunni Muslim (88%). However, Jews and Christians are a significant and well-received minority. In fact, if one were to divide people by religion, then, based on recent Human Rights reports, the following divisions would be more accurate: Those severely oppressed, tortured, killed, or
imprisoned: Those under constant scrutiny and threat: Those whom the government couldn't care less
about: Those preferred by the government: No human-rights abuses are documented against them. More details on religious persecution are contained in the Reaction of the Uzbek Government section and in relevant external links contained in that section. (*Estimated number at the end of 1993. Source: http://www.heritagefilms.com/Uzbekistan.htm) |
| Islamic History |
| On the 13 of Shawwal 194 AH (810 CE) a
blind boy was born in the city of Bukhara in Uzbekistan. His widowed
mother, the strong Mu'minah that she was, did not lose sight of He
who had the Power to cure her son. She constantly and continuously
prayed that her son be blessed with the ability to see. And within
a few years her prayers were answered. She traveled with her son to
Makkah so that he could receive an Islamic Education. She arranged
that he attend the circles of the scholars, and in those circles,
he began excelling in the science of Hadith. He traveled to distant
villages in search of the most authentic sayings of Prophet Muhammad
[Peace be upon him]. He would pray two raka'at before accepting a
hadith. His mother named him: Muhammad ibn Isma'il. And today he is
known by the title of the book which he compiled, the book that stands
after the Quran in authenticity: Saheeh Al-Imam Al-Bukhari. (Source for information on Imam Bukhari: Articles 'Why Should I Study?' By Muhammad Al-Shareef, and 'Life of Imam Bukhari' Al-Jumuah v12, 5/6) Early Islamic Period The history of Islam in Uzbekistan dates back to before Imam Bukhari [May Allah have mercy on him] was born. Conquered by the great Muslim general Qutaybah ibn Muslim in the early eighth century, Uzbekistan has since seen the rise and fall of many great dynasties. Throughout it's history, Uzbekistan's cities have served as rich centers of trade, knowledge, and culture, but at the times when Muslims have been weak, divided, and busy fighting amongst themselves, these cities have also been plundered, robbed, and burnt by the enemies of Islam. Whilst Uzbekistan has enjoyed great wealth and economic-independence, at times it has also been subjected to repression and forced dependence. Uzbekistan continues to face repression and poverty to this day. Uzbekistan was first invaded by the Muslims through sporadic raids in the middle of the seventh century during the glorious times of the Sahabah [May Allah be pleased with them] . The conquest was completed by the early eighth century and Islamic roots were firmly established in the region by the Muslim victory over the Chinese armies in 750, in a battle at the Talas River. This year also marked the beginning of the Abbasid Caliphate, which was to rule over Uzbekistan for the next two centuries. |
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| During the height of the Abbasid Caliphate in the eighth and ninth centuries, Uzbekistan and its surrounding areas experienced a truly golden age. Bukhara became one of the leading centers of learning, culture, and art in the Muslim world, its magnificence rivaling contemporaneous cultural centers such as Baghdad, Cairo, and Cordoba (Qurtuba). | |
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It should be noted that some of the greatest historians, scientists, and geographers in the history of Islamic culture were natives of this region, many during and many after the Abbasid Caliphate. Among these, a few are Abul Layth Samarqandi (a faqih, who lived around the 10th century (CE)), Abdul-Aziz al-Bukhari (a Hanafi usuli, author of the famous usul work Kashf al-Asrar; who lived around 14th (CE) Century). Umar al-Nasafi, (a famous scholar and author of Aqa'id Nasafiyyah, he also wrote an entire book about the scholars of Samarkand - not to mention those of Bukhara, Tashkent, and other regions). As the Abbasid Caliphate began to weaken and the influence of the Shiite tribes in Iran began to spread, Uzbekistan eventually came under the rule of the Samanid dynasty. However, the rich culture of the region continued to flourish. The ninth century saw the continued influx of another group from the north. These were the Turks, who had initially been put into the armies of the Samanid as well as Abbasid armies. However, in the late tenth century, when the Samanids weakened, many of these soldiers assumed positions of power and many more Turkic tribes migrated to Uzbekistan. Turkic Rule The last years of the tenth century saw the first Turkic state in the region - the Ghaznavid Empire, which ruled the lands south of the Amu Darya. Under Sultan Mehmood Ghaznavi, this empire expanded to include large areas of Iran, Afghanistan, and northern India, but was eventually overrun in the eleventh century by two Turkic tribes. Of these, the Seljuks controlled a vast region from the west of Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq. However, by the mid twelfth century, the Seljuk Empire had split into many states ruled by various local Turkic and Iranian rulers. All this turmoil, however, did not adversely affect the intellectual life in these areas, which continued to be a beacon of knowledge and culture. In the late twelfth century, a Turkic leader, Qutubuddin Muhammad managed to unite Khorazm (area south of the Aral Sea), and present-day Uzbekistan through Iran under his rule. Uzbekistan continued to flourish under his rule and the rule of his son Muhammad II. The Mongols - Bloodshed and Plunder The time period 1219 to 1225, marks the worst period in the history of Uzbekistan: This centuries-old beacon of light and guidance was destroyed - to such an extent that it could never recover its full glory. Libraries, mosques, and research centers were burnt; scientists, intellectuals, worshippers and scholars were killed, irrigation networks were destroyed, and the books that survived being burnt were thrown into the rivers. This large-scale plundering of the centers of science and knowledge, art and literature, and deep-rooted Islamic traditions is an event history can never forget - not to ignore the streams of Muslim blood, and the tall structures erected out of the skulls of the Muslims who had been slaughtered. The perpetrator of these horrific crimes was the barbarian Chinggis (Genghis) Khan and his merciless Mongol (Tartar) armies. Thus, the city of Bukhara and the province of Khorazm, the leading and wealthiest centers, were shattered. The Rule of Timur - Conquest and Prosperity After a long dark period of Mongol rule, in the early fourteenth century, Uzbekistan saw a ray of light in the form of Timur (Tamerlane) (also known as 'Timur Lung' or 'Timur the Lame', due to the fact that he had lost a leg). A local tribal ruler, he soon emerged as the dominant force in Uzbekistan and further conquered all of western Central Asia, Iran, Asia Minor, and the southern steppe region north of the Aral Sea. He also invaded Russia before dying, during an invasion of China in 1405. O Muslims! Are there any among you who will make history like him today, and crush the likes of Ghenggis and his descendents? Timur made Samarkand the capital of his great empire. Numerous scholars, artisans, scientists, and architects were brought here during reign of Timur and his immediate successors. Many magnificent construction projects were undertaken in Samarkand and other population centers during and after his time, some of which can be seen even today (See: http://www.unesco.org/webworld/asicent/uzbkslid.htm). Timur also patronized scientists and artists; his own grandson, Ulugh Beg, was one of the world's first great astronomers.
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The Uzbek Rule After Timur's death, his great empire split into two. Much internal fighting ensued, which led to the conquest of Central Asia including Uzbekistan (in 1510) by the Uzbek tribes from the north. Their most powerful state, the Khanate of Bukhara, led by the Shaybanid Dynasty, centered around the city of Bukhara, returning some lost glory to Bukhara. However, internal fighting amongst Muslims - in this case, mainly against the Shiite Safavid Dynasty in Iran, and constant raids from the North by the Mongols and Kazak nomads led to the weakening of the Uzbek Khanates.
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Russians and the Fall of Uzbekistan While the Uzbek rule was at its weakest, a new group, the Russians, emerged on the scene as merchants mainly in present-day Kazakhstan. By the early nineteenth century, Russians had gained control of the Kazak steppes on the north, and a British position had been established in Afghanistan in the south. Thus, Central Asia got caught up in what is referred to as "The Great Game", with both the British and the Russians trying to add it to their respective empires. The Muslims of Central Asia, who did not realize the dangerous position they were in, continued to waste their strength in wars amongst themselves and in pointless campaigns of conquest. Thus the latter half of the nineteenth century saw the fall of the Uzbek Khanates to the Russians, bringing an end to the glorious chapter of Islam in Uzbekistan. Allah Willing this was only a temporary 'end,' just a pause, and not a finality- hopefully it is only a night that will soon pass, to make way for the dawn of Islam which will shine down upon the people of Uzbekistan again. A glimpse of Uzbekistan's long and rich Islamic history reveals one important trend - the times when Uzbekistan has been plundered and taken over by disbelievers coincides with the times the Muslims have been weak in their faith and divided. O Muslims of today! Will we not learn the lessons from the history of this glorious land? History repeats itself and carries with it lessons - if only we open our eyes, ears, and hearts - and if only we understand! (Source of historical 'facts': http://www.emulateme.com/history/uzbekhist.htm) 'Post-Islamic' Uzbekistan Under Russian Rule: Under the Russians, Uzbekistan suffered economic downfall
and religious repression. The economic problems arose mainly out
of the Russians' over-emphasis on cotton production. This was done
at the expense of creating an agricultural imbalance, with Uzbekistan
now forced to rely on other areas for its own food supply. The Russians
used Uzbekistan as a supplier of cotton to the rest of their huge
nation at the expense of the Uzbek Muslims' own prosperity and self-sufficiency
Additionally, this led to overuse of agrochemicals
and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned
and the Aral Sea and certain rivers semi dry. It should be noted
that the drying up of the Aral Sea in the West is resulting in growing
concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances
are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute
to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the
heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human
health disorders; increasing soil salination; and soil contamination
from agricultural chemicals, including DDT.
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Since ancient times, Uzbekistan has been a land of legendary conquests and constant invasions. However, much of this has apparently been the result of power-struggles between and within different tribes and ethnic groups, and would not be considered Jihad per se. Jihad by definition is the struggle where personal gains are not sought after, and Jihad entails that the intention be solely to make the Law of Allah supreme. The first Jihad which brought the light of Islam to Uzbekistan was waged during the times of the noble Sahabah [May Allah be pleased with them] - the companions of the Prophet Muhammad [Peace be upon him]. The conquest of what is present-day Uzbekistan was completed by the great Muslim General Qutaybah ibn Muslim in the early eighth century. The next Jihad against clear infidels was the resistance against the Mongol invasions in the thirteenth century, which was crushed easily, but only to rise again a century later under Timur. Timur waged a wide Jihad and conquered many lands throughout Central Asia, bringing them into the fold of Islam. After Timur, the land of Uzbekistan saw many changes of leadership and many invasions, mostly of one Muslim dynasty or tribe over another. Which of these battles were "Jihad" and which were not would be determined by a detailed analysis of the circumstances around each conquest and the specific aims of each conquerer. In the absence of such detailed information, we abstain from judging them and hence we do not include them in this section. A brief mention of the different ruling dynasties is contained in the section on Islamic History. It should be noted that some history books mention the "Basmachi Movement" or the "Jadidi Movement" in the 1920's in Uzbekistan to be a "precursor" to the recent "Mujahideen Movement" and place the roots of the present Islamic Movement in these earlier movements. However, while the Jadidi uprising was clearly against Soviet Rule, it was not really in order to establish Islam. It seemed to be more influenced by other Western secular ideologies, such as those that took over Turkey in the 1920s. The later "Basmachi" uprising ended in an almost decade-long guerilla war against Soviet rule. However, by the end, most of the leaders 'cast their lots with the communists' and the movement died down. It should be noted that true Mujahideen are solely motivated by a desire to serve Allah (Glorious and Most High is He) and establish Islam. Their roots are in the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet [Peace be upon him]. Any movement or invasion, which is not motivated by these factors will not be considered to be waging Jihad, even if it is 'Muslim.' |
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What Is The Goal? To defend Muslim blood, property and honour firstly, and then to remove the oppressive Zionist regime of Islam Karimov, replacing it with a Shariah Government. Who Is The Enemy? The Mujahideen have made it clear: "We are not fighting Muslims and are not fighting civilians. The President (of Uzbekistan) is a Zionist Jew and his army are communists who know what they are doing. They are not just obeying orders under pressure, but actively taking part in oppressing their 'own' people, the Uzbek Muslims." This battle is clearly one of Islam versus Kufr (disbelief), and justice versus tyranny. Actually, it is a battle of Islamic forces in Uzbekistan against a coalition of disbelieving nations backing Karimov (See: "Response of the International Community" ). The Mujahideen are aware of this, and have prepared, and are preparing accordingly. We ask Allah to grant the Mujahideen a speedy and magnificent victory. Development Of The Current Jihad After the fall of the Soviet Empire in 1991, until 1994, the Muslims of Uzbekistan tried non-military means to establish Islam in Uzbekistan. Their efforts were met by a severe, oppressive response from the Karimov regime. When Karimov banned all Islamic political parties in 1994, and embarked on his large-scale oppressive campaign, the Muslims were left with no choice but to resort to arms against his open tyranny. However, major military operations did not begin until 1998. Events of 1999
In the summer of 1999, 400 Uzbek Mujahideen under the command of Juma Namangani entered Tajikistan, then Kyrgyzstan en route to Uzbekistan. Fierce battles raged in Uzbekistan for a few weeks then the brothers withdrew into Kyrgyzstan. There they were attacked by both Kyrgyz forces and Uzbek fighter aircraft and helicopter gunships. Both the Kyrgyz and Uzbek forces suffered large losses at the expense of only eight martyrs from the Mujahideen's side. During the battle with Kyrgyz forces, the Mujahideen captured their General. Once he realised who the Mujahideen were and why they were fighting, he joined them. He then returned to Kyrgystan to join the Kyrgyz Mujahideen. The Mujahideen then withdrew into Tajikistan where they stayed for a couple of months. The Uzbek Government warned Tajikistan to expel these Mujahideen or they would attack them. The Mujahideen braced themselves to fight, but during peaceful discussions with Abdullah Noori, Juma Namangani agreed to withdraw into the mountains of Afghanistan. The 1999 events are documented by Western sources as well. The following account is particularly interesting: (excerpts paraphrased from "Where is Juma Namangani", EurasiaNet Aug. 17, 2000):
This shows that the kind treatment of the Mujahideen towards their poor Muslim brothers during their brief stay in the region has won more support for the cause of Islam - more In Sha Allah than that which the government can suppress! Allahu Akbar! Indeed, true believers are "Strong against the Unbelievers, and merciful amongst themselves. You see them bowing and falling prostrate (in prayer), seeking bounty from Allah and His Pleasure…" [Quran, 49:29] After the Mujahideen's successful attacks, the Uzbek Government oppressed the civilians even more, continuing rampant arrests, torture, and detentions. Additionally, they forced hundreds of them to flee into Tajikistan. Both Russia and the Uzbek Government forced these refugees to leave Tajikistan and go to Afghanistan. They remained for a few months in Mazar Shareef. Soon after this fighting, the Turkish President visited Uzbekistan and offered them support in the fight against 'terrorism' in Central Asia. Soon after his return, Allah humiliated Turkey with the large earthquake that killed large numbers of Turkish military personnel. Both Israel and the U.S. sent emissaries to Uzbekistan offering their help. A few months later, China, Russia and the Central Asian countries participated in a conference in Bisk (capital of Kyrgyzstan) to agree to jointly fight 'terrorism' in Central Asia. (However, there was no mention of the terrorism inflicted by these governments on their own people.) The enemies continue to plot and plan even to this day (See section: "Reaction of the Uzbekistan Government" below for more details.) Current Jihad Since August 2000 In early August 2000, whilst the Mujahideen were in the process of preparation and transferring supplies and men to strategic locations in Uzbekistan, the Uzbekistan Government attacked them. A huge battle took place in the Fargana Valley (see below) lasting several days and the enemy suffered substantial losses. Fighting is still raging on at this time though less severe than when it started in August. The fighting now is predominantly guerilla warfare in nature with thousands of Mujahideen on one hand, and the Uzbekistan Government on the other - using aeroplanes, helicopters, artillery and fighting vehicles against the Mujahideen. While only Allah knows how long the battle will last, the Mujahideen have made the following very clear: "We are prepared to fight and fight until victory, even if it takes 50 years to do so." It should be noted that the recent fighting (initiated in the last week of September 2000) in Northern Afghanistan, and the visit (Sept. 28, 2000) of a Russian envoy to Pakistan are all attempts to block what the enemies think are support channels to the Mujahideen. This is evidenced by their own reports (See for example: http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/uzbekistan/hypermail/news/). These and other similar happenings are not unrelated to the developing situation in Uzbekistan. The Region In Focus The fighting presently involves the region encompassing northern Tajikistan, south-western Kyrgyzstan, and eastern Uzbekistan - a fertile agricultural zone called the 'Fergana Valley'. Surrounded by high mountains, this valley had historically been one piece. It was divided into different administrative zones by the Soviets with no consideration given to the ethnicity of its occupants. Thus, amongst other ethnic groups, we find Uzbeks in the Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan portions of this valley and vice versa, making the Fergana valley a natural ethnic and cultural link between the different countries. Today, many civilians of the Fergana valley are not content with the ruling governments and their repressive policies. Many of them, particularly those in Uzbekistan, have suffered greatly at the hands of their governments. They are, thus, supportive of the Mujahideen despite severe crackdowns by their worried governments. (Source of information on Fergana Valley: http://www.cpss.org/updates/cacupd.htm). It should be noted, though, that whilst fighting is going on in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, these two countries are not the target of the Uzbek Mujahideen. Rather, they are merely logistical routes into Uzbekistan. Reaction Of The Uzbek Government To The Current Jihad As of August 2000, the Government of Uzbekistan's top priority has been to try to crush the "Islamists". It has reacted in a number of ways, employing a wide range of plots and strategies to fight the Mujahideen at all levels. Some examples of their recent activity, taken from their own media sources, are given below: 1. The Cowardly Response: Further repression, arrests, Nazi-style torture, and baseless detention of thousands of defenseless civilians. For an example, see the article (Sept. 22, 2000): 'Rights observer sees no end to religious persecution in Uzbekistan', where Acacia Shields, who heads the Tashkent office for Human Rights Watch, reports of more torture, detentions, arrests and atrocities against Muslims (http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/recaps/articles/eav092200.shtml ). 2. Ongoing military response - for example, bombing of suspected mujahideen bases in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and military buildup along the Uzbek-Kyrgyz, ad Kyrgyz-Tajik borders. 3. Implementation of the Visa requirement between Tajik and Uzbek borders (effective Sept. 18, 2000), and several other border agreements with neighbouring countries. This is in an effort to provide increased security along the borders and try to limit the movement of the Mujahideen. 4. Tours, meetings, and talks with government leaders of other countries, the most recent (as of Sept. 28, 2000) of such visits by Islam Karimov on Sept. 27, 2000 to Kyrgyzstan. 5. Signing of various new pacts of cooperation with neighbouring countries, particularly Kyrgyzstan, for increased cooperation in fighting against the Mujahideen. 6. The Underhanded Response: Seeking to "Divide and Conquer" the local Muslim population: By introducing "Naqshbandi Sufism" as a replacement of Islam, or more accurately, introducing the government's own version of "sufism" against "fundamentalism", the government seeks to spread hatred between Muslims and reduce support for the Mujahideen. As detailed in an article written by Paul Globe, reported on the Eurasianet, Sept 12, 2000:
The same strategy was successfully employed in Chechnya, and is now openly being pursued in Uzbekistan. The recent Chechen war has made clearly obvious the hypocrisy of many individuals involved-yet some of the same individuals (e.g. Hisham Kabbani from the U.S., who visited Uzbekistan recently) are now trying to spread the same poison again - and so openly! Have the Muslims learned the lesson of Unity and Brotherhood yet? If not, then what more are we waiting for? Have we forgotten the Hadith of the Prophet [Peace be upon him] that a Believer is not bitten from the same hole twice? Have we forgotten all the verses in the Quran about Unity and Brotherhood? How long are we going to remain so ignorant? The Childish Response - 'name calling', labeling, and disillusioning: By labeling the Mujahideen as extremists, 'monsters' (speech of Uzbek President in Kyrgyzstan Sept 27, 2000), and terrorists, the government seeks to disillusion the local and international population. However, when children call names, adults are unaffected, so too will the true believers remain unaffected Allah Willing, by this ploy of the government. 7. Hiding the Truth - Refusing negotiations: As reported by Western sources, Uzbekistan is 'hiding their weakness' by refusing any kind of negotiations and putting up a strong 'front'. By the Will of Allah, He will expose their weakness soon and they will realize that fighting the laws and the soldiers of Allah is futile! 8. Approaching other governments with 'intelligence' information about alleged Mujahideen bases and networks in their respective countries and seeking to have them removed. For example, The Uzbek President's meeting with Pakistan's General Musharraf earlier this year, and personally handing him detailed information of "terrorist bases" in Pakistan. 9. Internally, trying to involve all government bodies and
NGOs in battling the Mujahideen on all levels. See for example,
the news report "Uzbek political parties adopt programme of
action to fight 'terrorism'" (http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/uzbekistan/hypermail/200009/0042.html).
Response Of The International Community Typically the response from the international community to the situation in Uzbekistan has been one of open support for the harsh kuffaar government, mainly the following countries and establishments: U.S.A. Reports Interfax (Sept. 12, 2000):
Further proof, as reported by the RFE/RL news agency: Meeting with Kyrgyzstan's Defense Minister General
Esen Topoev in the nation's capital, Bishkek, on 25 September,
the U.S. Central Command Commander-in-Chief General Tommy Franks
said,
Russia Russia had been issuing warnings of imminent attacks to the Uzbek President even before the first Mujahideen attack, and has since been extremely concerned about this Jihad. It is willing to provide military and other assistance, as was officially announced on 8/26/00 and again on 8/28/00 (Interfax and ITAR-TASS). Moreover, DAWN International reported (August 31, 2000), that Moscow was to send 30 million dollars worth of weapons to Tashkent. Russia's extreme concern over this Jihad is obvious. For one, Russia is trying to increase its own control over the independent CIS republics including Uzbekistan. Second, with its bitter experiences in Afghanistan and Chechnya, Russia can not tolerate another Islamic government in Uzbekistan, so close to the Caucasus. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan Several border agreements, new defense cooperation pacts, and military coordination agreements have been made in an effort to 'unite' their resources against the Mujahideen. China According to the Interfax news agency (August 24, 2000), China was to send $365,000 "as a goodwill gesture" to Uzbekistan to fight the Mujahideen. Turkey On September 19, 2000, Turkey also openly announced its readiness to provide security assistance to Uzbekistan. Apparently, the massive earthquake in 1999 did not teach the Turkish government a lesson! The response of the rest of the world is easy to predict, but is yet to be seen as the situation changes and develops. The above should make it clear that this war is actually one
of Islam against Kufr (Disbelief), with the major powers of
disbelief uniting against those who seek to establish Islam. Response of the 'Muslim' World Silence (at present) The response of the Quran to the world's response "If Allah is your helper, none can overcome you. And if He withdraws His help from you, then who is there who can help you? So in Allah let the Believers put their trust." [Quran, 3:160] True Mujahideen will be unaffected with whatever their enemies may be planning and amassing against them, for they - Allah Willing- will be the description of what Allah - Glorious and Most High - has revealed: "And when people said unto them, 'Indeed, people have gathered much against you, so fear them', it increased their faith, and they said: 'Enough for us is Allah. Most Excellent is He, in whom we trust!" [Quran, 3:173] Also, the collusion of the disbelievers and hypocrites against Islam is a manifestation of clear Quranic verses containing valuable lessons and instructions for Muslims: "O you who believe! Take not the Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends one to another. He among you who takes them for friends is (one) of them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people… Your friend can be only Allah; and His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poor-due, and bow down (in prayer). And whoever takes Allah and His messenger and those who believe for friends (will know that), Indeed, the party of Allah, they are the victorious!" [Quran, 5:51, 55-56] O Muslims, will we learn this valuable lesson? Will we support the cause of Islam and be victorious, or will we remain silent spectators as more and more Muslims are tortured and killed, or will we side with the hypocrites and disbelievers and be eternal losers? The choice should be clear. So are we ready to purchase eternal Paradise at the cost of this worthless temporary world? "Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoever fights in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward." [Quran, 4:74]. A Message From The Mujahideen
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1. Muhammad Tahir Jan - The Leader of the Mujahideen Currently residing in Afghanistan, Muhammad Tahir Jan is the Ameer of the Mujahideen in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. He was a member of an Islamic political party after the breakup of the Soviet Union and Karimov created many problems for him. He studied Islam for several years in Tajikistan. He fought in the Jihad of Tajikistan against the regime there and was a member of the Shura Council of Hizb-Wahdat under the leadership of Abdullah Noori. He was injured there. When the Mujahideen of Tajikistan left for Afghanistan in 1993, he left with them and has been there ever since. 2. Juma Namangani - The Military Commander of the Mujahideen, and Leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Juma Namangani was also the Commander of the operations in 1999 and the recent operations in August 2000. 3. Abdullah Noori - He is the former head of the Tajikistan Hizb Wahdat Islamic Party He later made debatable peace with the Tajikistan Government. He is not directly a part of the jihad in Uzbekistan, but is a key Muslim figure in Tajikistan. Due to the proximity of the two countries, he can potentially play a significant role in the on-going Jihad in Uzbekistan, as he did in negotiations in the operations of 1999. |
| Eight Mujahideen were martyred in the operations in 1999, and amongst them was a mujahid by the name of Abdul-Aziz. More information on martyrs in this Jihad is currently unavailable, but Allah Willing, such information will be added upon availability. |
| How Can Other Muslims Help |
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The nature of the Jihad at present eliminates the need for foreign Mujahideen to join the Uzbek Mujahideen in person. However, at present, their contribution is needed in the following ways 1. Strong and sincere Dua 2. Financial help 3. Technological help |
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1. The Uzbekistan Resource Page: Contains a wealth of information and numerous links related to Uzbekistan as well as news/analysis archives (all from a Western perspective): http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/uzbekistan/index.shtml 2. Short Human Rights Article: http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/uzbekistan/links/uzhr10199.html 3. State Department's Reports on Human Rights: http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1999_hrp_report/uzbekist.html 4. More links on the government's Human Rights abuses: http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/uzbekistan/links/rights.shtml 5. Analysis of various Central Asian conflicts: http://www.cpss.org/updates/cacupd.htm 6. CIA Factbook: http://geography.about.com/science/geography/library/cia/blcuzbekistan.htm |