Man Arrested in Samarkand for Illegally Teaching Religion to Children
Uzbekistan’s State Security Service announced the arrest of a man in the city of Samarkand on charges of illegally teaching religion to children. According to the agency, the individual was instructing seven children aged 12 to 15 without possessing valid religious education or official authorization, and was receiving money in return.
The announcement stated that the arrested man is a resident of the Tashlak district in the Fergana region. He had rented a house in the Dustlik neighborhood of the Urgut district in Samarkand, where he established an informal educational room.
According to the released information, investigations revealed that the individual lacked legal documentation to teach religious teachings. A criminal case has now been opened against him for violating religious education regulations, and the investigation is ongoing.
The State Security Service of Uzbekistan has urged families not to entrust their children to individuals without sufficient religious education and official permits. The announcement warned that such actions could have serious consequences.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has imposed strict oversight on religious activities. Concerns over the spread of extremism, especially given the history of groups like the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, are cited as major reasons for this approach.
This group had maintained a presence in parts of Afghanistan for years. In 2020, the Ministry of Defense of the former Afghan government reported the killing of Abdulaziz Yuldash, one of the movement’s leaders, in the Gormach district of Faryab province.
Following political changes in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover, some Uzbek militants were suppressed while others joined different groups, including ISIS. Reports also indicate that some were forced to pledge allegiance to the Taliban administration and now operate under its supervision.
Currently, Tashkent maintains close relations with the Taliban administration. Preventing the infiltration of extremist groups from Afghanistan into Uzbekistan is considered an important factor in strengthening these ties.
