F18News: TURKMENISTAN: In Ramadan, Muslims fear "extremism" accusations

[Tbs77]

Tuesday 28 May 2019

TURKMENISTAN: In Ramadan, Muslims fear "extremism" accusations

 

Muslims increasingly fear being branded "extremists" if they visibly fast

or mark Ramadan. Turkmenistan has jailed numerous Muslims on vague

"extremism" accusations, including to punish them for meetings to study

their faith.

 

One Muslim stopped going to mosque after police summoned him.

"Who is more important, Allah or the President?" an officer asked him.

 

TURKMENISTAN: In Ramadan, Muslims fear "extremism" accusations

http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2481

By Felix Corley, Forum 18

 

An increasing number of Muslims feel forced not to mark the Muslim holy

month of Ramadan visibly, as they fear being branded "extremists", local

people told Radio Free Europe's Turkmen Service. Some therefore choose not

to fast, while those that do often try to keep it secret.

 

Turkmenistan has jailed numerous Muslims on vague accusations that they are "extremists", including to punish them for meeting with others to study

their faith. Trials often take place in secret and, once jailed, many prisoners have no contact with relatives. Many such prisoners are tortured

(see below).

 

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[Bek]

Yes, I can imagine that. Of all the Central Asian countries, Turkmenistan has the scariest folks in power. Even I, as a Central Asian, would be scared to visit it as a tourist. I don't know how our brothers are surviving there. Life is tough in many ways in that desert country. 

 

In contrast, Uzbekistan, which until recently was the number one scariest country in the region, is opening up. This year, our brothers there were even able to hold memorial meetings openly for the first time in many years.