KYRGYZ MUSLIM BOARD RESPONDS TO SECURITY MINISTRY’S ALLEGATIONS.

The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims in Kyrgyzstan has issued a statement accusing Russian-language newspapers of “stirring up unrest, misrepresenting facts, and labeling Muslims as Wahhabites and fanatics… These [publications] aim to foster hostility toward Islam and practicing Muslims,” according to the statement. The Spiritual Directorate held the state authorities responsible for allowing newspapers to “insult our religion and the Muslims — an obvious provocation aimed at undermining stability.” Warning that recurrence could lead to unrest, the Directorate urged the authorities to take legal steps against publication of such articles. (Russian agencies, May 8)

The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims, a carryover from the Soviet era, normally behaves in tame fashion toward the authorities. Its unusual statement follows the publication in Kyrgyzstan’s leading Russian-language newspaper, Vecherny Bishkek, of a conspiracy story credited to the State Security Ministry which purported to describe a vast Islamic conspiracy against Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries. (See the Monitor, May 5) — VS

The Monitor is a publication of the Jamestown Foundation. It is researched and written under the direction of senior analysts Jonas Bernstein, Vladimir Socor, Stephen Foye, and analysts Ilya Malyakin, Oleg Varfolomeyev and Ilias Bogatyrev. If you have any questions regarding the content of the Monitor, please contact the foundation. If you would like information on subscribing to the Monitor, or have any comments, suggestions or questions, please contact us by e-mail at pubs@jamestown.org, by fax at 301-562-8021, or by postal mail at The Jamestown Foundation, 4516 43rd Street NW, Washington DC 20016. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of the Monitor is strictly prohibited by law. Copyright (c) 1983-2002 The Jamestown Foundation Site Maintenance by Johnny Flash Productions