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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 000826 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2016 
TAGS: KIRF KISL PGOV PREL SOCI UZ
SUBJECT: AN INVITATION TO FRIDAY PRAYER 
 
REF: TASHKENT 809 
 
Classified By: AMB. JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D). 
 
¶1.  (U) This is the second in a series on the state of Islam 
in Uzbekistan, with future cables addressing the relationship 
of mosque and state and the growing market for Islamic 
materials and media. 
 
¶2.  (C)  Summary:  During a recent visit to a neighborhood 
mosque during Friday prayers, poloff observed worshipers 
gathered in a social atmosphere to catch up with each other 
and meet informally.  Book vendors were peddling Uzbek 
language materials on Islam, each containing the GOU's seal 
of approval.  Contrary to years past when the Karimov regime 
cracked down on all but the elderly who openly practiced 
their faith, poloff witnessed a congregation made up mainly 
of young men under the age of 30.  Although under the 
watchful eye of the government, the pulpit is a primary 
source of spiritual and social direction for many people. 
These Imams are therefore unique in Uzbekistan, as they have 
weekly, if not daily, access over great numbers of the 
population, and can directly influence their thinking.  End 
summary. 
 
¶3.  (C)  Upon invitation by a local contact, poloff attended 
Friday prayers at a neighborhood mosque.  Because the actual 
prayers are in Arabic, Imams begin a half hour prior to the 
official ceremony with a lecture in Uzbek to the gathering 
crowds.  The Muslim Board of Uzbekistan determines the weekly 
theme and provides general guidance to Imams without 
dictating the message word-for-word.  Although given leeway, 
the Imams keep their language in check, knowing that there 
are government informants among the crowd. 
 
¶4.  (C)  Friday prayer, not unlike a Christian mass, seemed 
to be a social event where members of the congregation used 
the weekly opportunity to catch up with each other.  As 
groups of friends and acquaintances formed both before and 
after the ceremony, it was evident that worshipers utilized 
the opportunity to gather and talk without the threat of 
prying eyes and ears.  Poloff was told that networking for a 
job was not uncommon with the young men, and attending Friday 
prayer with a future father-in-law was in a suitor's best 
interest.  Poloff is not Muslim and joined about a dozen 
Uzbeks in one section of the courtyard, seemingly the 
unofficial waiting area for non-practicing Uzbeks.  These 
individuals claimed to be waiting for friends or family. 
 
¶5.  (C)  In nearly every mosque, vendors offer for sale the 
latest prayer books and Islamic studies pamphlets in Uzbek. 
At some of the larger mosques, CDs, cassettes, and DVDs of 
sermons, radio and television programs are also available. 
All of these materials are strictly regulated by the 
Committee for Religious Affairs, and are usually published 
with the Muslim Board's imprint.  Any print material related 
to the Muslim faith must be pre-approved before publication 
and sale.  Sales were brisk, and vendors could not keep up 
with customer demands.  When asked, the seller told poloff 
that each week he sells more than 50 percent of his stock. 
 
¶6.  (C)  Poloff observed that the majority of the all-male 
congregation was under the age of 30, at almost a two to one 
ratio.  Contacts told poloff that after the 1999 Tashkent 
bombings, which were followed by wide-scale arrests of 
practicing Muslims, attendance by young men dropped 
significantly.  At that time, it was understood that the 
elderly were no threat to the regime and allowed to practice 
their faith openly.  Young men, however, were scrutinized and 
targeted as extremists should they pray five times a day or 
grow a beard.  Now, with the changing demographics (it is 
estimated that more than 60 percent of the population is 
under 30) and a relaxing of restrictions by the government 
(reftel), the composition of the congregation has changed 
dramatically. 
 
¶7.  (C)  Comment: With a clear lack of venues to gather and 
share information, Friday prayer is becoming an increasingly 
significant and effective method for disseminating any social 
or political message to the masses, particularly to youth. 
To date, the GOU has been relatively successful in 
controlling this message.  However, the Imams are unique in 
Uzbekistan in that they have direct access to large swaths of 
the population on a regular basis.  This access alone gives 
them significant influence in the daily lives of many Uzbeks, 
 
TASHKENT 00000826  002 OF 002 
 
 
probably much more than the government enjoys. 
PURNELL