Uzbekistan is a small country located in Central Asia. It borders with such states as Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan is a warm sunny state. But is everything so good, what nationalities live, what national religions?
History of Uzbekistan
The emergence of the state of Uzbekistan is attributed to the turn of the 7-8 centuries BC. e. The city of Shakhrisabz is the oldest of all cities in the country. Its foundation dates back to the formation of Uzbekistan itself, namely to the 7th century. Other cities have survived, such as Samarkand, Karshi, Tashkent, Khiva, etc.
The state has a long and rich history. At the beginning of the 20th century, Uzbekistan became part of the Soviet Union. Various types of production were successfully developed here: food, light and heavy industries. On August 31, 1991, Uzbekistan officially withdrew from the USSR. The President of the Uzbek SSR made a statement on the country's independence. Later, in December 1992, the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan was adopted. The state is in this status today.
Population
According to the latest statistics in 2018, the population of the Republic of Uzbekistan is 32,900,100 people. The state has a high birth rate. The population here is constantly increasing.
Uzbekistan is a multinational state. The following nationalities live in it:
- Uzbeks
- Russians
- Kazakhs
- Tajiks
- Tatars
- Koreans;
- Turkmens
- Ukrainians;
- Karakalpaks;
- others.
Religion of Uzbekistan today
Uzbekistan is a country practicing the Islamic religion. More than 90% of the population are Muslims. There are also adherents of other world and national religions: Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.
Initially, the country was pagan. People believed in the existence of a large number of gods. Islam in Uzbekistan was adopted due to the fact that part of the state was occupied by the Golden Horde. The first representative of the Islamic religion was the ruler of the state - Khan Uzbek. He abandoned paganism in favor of Islam.
According to one of the legends, the Russian prince Alexander Nevsky tried to persuade the khan of Uzbekistan to adopt the Christian religion.
Islamic Movement in Uzbekistan
In 1996, an organization was formed in Uzbekistan, whose members were Muslims who were members of various banned parties. For example, the Islamic Revival Party or the Warriors of Islam. The leader of the organization was Tahir Yuldashev, and his deputy Zubair Abdul Rahim.
The main goal of the organization is the creation of an Islamic state. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is recognized as a terrorist organization by both Russian special services and American ones.
Organization History
Since 1997, the organization began to expand its activities. For this, more and more new people were needed. And they were. The composition of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan was international. This included Tajiks, Tatars, Kazakhs, Turkmen, etc.
Later, when an anti-Islamic campaign began in Uzbekistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan had to seek new refuge. Many of its members emigrated to neighboring countries with their families. Mostly in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. During 1999-2000, more than 5,000 people left Uzbekistan.
Since 2001, the surviving members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan have settled on the borders of Afghanistan. In 2002 and 2003, terrorist acts took place in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and the IMU took responsibility for them.
Split grouping
2006 was a decisive year for the Islamic Organization. The leaders of the group ceased to agree, the internal situation grew tense, as a result of which there was a split. The organization was divided into 4 parts.
- The group, led by Tahir Yuldashev himself. It is located on the border of two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan. Presumably few people remained in this group, about 200. New members practically did not arrive at the terrorist organization. Several times the authorities had the opportunity to catch Yuldashev, but the local local leaders saved him from prison each time.
- A group of terrorists who left the country. Basically, these people went to Iran, Pakistan or other countries. The main reason for their rejection of the IMU was the rejection that their leader ceased to engage in the main activities of the group (the struggle against the regime and activities of Karimov), and instead sent his people to the Taliban.
- Islamic Jihad Group. This organization was created back in 2002 as a result of the fact that IMU leaders Yahye and Abu Khuzayfa disagreed with Tahir Yuldashev. The conflict was that the head of the organization practically did not take any action on the territory of Afghanistan. The group of Islamic Jihad in North Waziristan is located. It is believed that it is similar to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization.
- A group of terrorists returning to Uzbekistan. The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan has come up with a tricky move and announced the pardon of those persons of the terrorist group who will return to their homeland. Some terrorists actually bought this ploy and returned home. After that, almost all those who returned were imprisoned. Some of them managed to escape to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, etc.
The terrorist organization of Uzbekistan today
After the terrorist attacks, the organization did not manifest itself for a long time. About 12 years have not been heard about her. Several times information appeared in the press that the leader of the criminal group Tahir Yuldashev was killed. The last such statement was voiced in 2009. After that, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan was controlled by Usman Adil for 3 years, until 2012. But in 2012 he was destroyed. The new leader of the criminal organization, Usman Gazi, in 2014 announced the accession of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan to the ISIS criminal group.
The Islamic movement, as an independent organization, has outlived itself. But the remaining members of the group do not lose hope that someday their movement will regain strength and regain its former influence, that joining ISIS will allow the organization to take part in major terrorist acts, which are planned to be carried out around the world.
From the foregoing, we can conclude that Uzbekistan is a warm, sunny country with a population of about half a million. Various industries are developed here. There are criminal groups, the main one of which was the IMU. The government was able to cope with the terrorist organization and solved this problem.
Today, almost all members of criminal organizations located in Uzbekistan are punished.