Islamists of Central Asia and Xinjiang—Questions of Religious Freedom

The Central Eurasia Project of the Open Society Institute hosted a discussion with Igor Rotar, Central Asia correspondent for Forum 18, a Norwegian human rights organization that seeks to establish religious freedom for all on the basis of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Forum 18 News Service is a web and email initiative that reports on threats and actions against the religious freedom of all people, whatever their religious affiliation.

Rotar frequently visits the Central Asian republics and the Xinjiang region in China. In 2005, he was deported from Uzbekistan due to his critical articles on the treatment of religious believers in the country. Rotar has also actively addressed human rights violations in Turkmenistan and has not been allowed to visit the country since 1995. Rotar is a frequent contributor to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Jamestown Foundation publications, and other media outlets. He is the author of numerous articles and books, many of which discuss Islam in the former Soviet Union.

Cassandra Cavanaugh, OSI regional director for Central Eurasia and the Caucasus, introduced the speaker.

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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.