The violent crackdown of a large demonstration by government forces in Uzbekistan in May 2005 spurred many controversies. The government tried to legitimate its actions by insisting that it had... Show moreThe violent crackdown of a large demonstration by government forces in Uzbekistan in May 2005 spurred many controversies. The government tried to legitimate its actions by insisting that it had acted against radical Islamists and terrorists, but other sources claimed that unarmed civilians, including children, were massacred. Although tragic, it should be stressed that the events did not represent a break with the past. Rather, they should be read as part of an on-going struggle between popular forms of resistance and state articulation of a discourse of terrorism. Show less
Uzbekistan is experiencing an ambiguous revival of Sufism; while people are rediscovering their religious traditions and Sufi groups are recomposing themselves, at the same time a form of state... Show moreUzbekistan is experiencing an ambiguous revival of Sufism; while people are rediscovering their religious traditions and Sufi groups are recomposing themselves, at the same time a form of state Sufism is emerging. Great mystical masters are celebrated as role models for today’s citizens and their teachings are reinterpreted in a politically correct way. In this respect, post-Soviet Uzbekistan is reinventing itself through its Sufi heritage, while preserving political habits from the recent Soviet past. Show less
