Islam in the Ferghana Valley

The Fergana Valley, a region in the Tian Shan mountain ranges that covers eastern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, is the most densely populated region in all of Central Asia. It is also host to political unrest and Islamic fundamentalism. Hizb-ut Tahrir, a radical Islamic group that advocates the nonviolent overthrow of existing governments in Central Asia and the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the region, has strong roots in the valley.

The 2005 massacre in Andijan, Uzbekistan, was blamed by the Karimov administration on Islamic radicals. However evidence suggests a local political power struggle was at the heart of the tragedy rather than any religious group.

At this forum sponsored by OSI's Central Eurasia Project, Kyrgyz journalist Alishir Khamidov and U.S. State Department analyst David Abramson discussed Islam in the valley and its potential to stoke unrest. Cassandra Cavanaugh, Central Eurasia Project's director of advocacy and grants, introduced the event.

Read a summary of the event.

Need help downloading a file or playing a clip? Click here.

The Open Forum speaker series aims to enhance policy debate on key issues facing Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East, and to raise public awareness of important developments in these regions. Monthly Open Forum events are held in New York and Washington, DC, and are attended by leading policymakers, scholars, NGO staff, and journalists. All events are free of charge.