As you know, the Republic of Tajikistan is one of the first states in the post-Soviet space that faced the problem of extremism.
This factor is particularly distinguished in the conditions of the civil war of 1992-1997.
Considering this problem through the prism of today’s processes, we can confidently say that the problem of extremism was not as relevant as it is now.
Since for 5 years of the civil war and until 2001 (the liquidation of field commanders who did not accept the conditions of peace and consent in the country), a terrorist act involving a suicide bomber was not recorded in Tajikistan.
The first suicide attack took place on September 3, 2010, when Akmal Karimov, a member of the extremist group Jamaat Ansarullah with an explosive-filled GAZ-2124 car, attacked the building of the ROBOP (Regional Organized Crime Unit) of the city of Khujand (northern Tajikistan, administrative center of Sughd region).
Prevention and counteraction of extremism in Tajikistan
Studies show that the problem of extremism, including prevention and counteraction in Tajikistan, can be divided into the following stages:
The first stage (1991-1997): gaining state independence, the problems and factors that led to the civil war (as well as the growth of religious consciousness of citizens – an active phase in the formation of political Islam).
The second stage (1998-2013): post-conflict peacebuilding in Tajikistan. The legitimacy of the IRPT (today the party (since 2015) is banned by the Decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan and is a terrorist and extremist organization) in the political processes of the country, the activation of extremist organizations: Hizbuttahrir in the late 90’s, the formation and activation of Salafists and other similar non-traditional religious movements in Central Asia, including Tajikistan.
The third stage (2014-2016): the actualization of the radicalization of youth in Tajikistan, new trends and approaches for the recruitment of citizens, especially labor migrants and other adherents within the country, the participation of Tajik citizens in hostilities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Adoption of the “National Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan to Combat Extremism and Terrorism for 2016-2020” and the implementation of the action plan in all cities and regions.
The fourth stage (from 2017 to this day).
An analysis of the situation and the results of the research show that after 2017, the stage of youth’s suffering began, and a number of measures were developed and implemented to return extremists, their families (wives and children), and today measures are being taken to rehabilitate and adapt former extremists and their families into the society of the country.
It should be emphasized that the radicalization of youth has internal and external causes and factors. Internal ones include: a complex of socio-economic problems, the decomposition of identity, and the factor of information and communication technologies, which were widely used to recruit a number of extremists. External factors include primarily the export of extremist ideas from the Middle East.
The analysis shows that using religion as a tool to achieve goals will lead to the radicalization of traditional communities and the denial of secular values of social development. The prerequisites for such a development of events existed both in Tajikistan and in other countries of Central Asia, however, they have different characteristics taking into account the level of religiosity of the population.
So, there are several factors that show the vulnerability of countries in the region, including in Tajikistan:
1) countries are in the process of strengthening their statehood and the formation of a common civic identity;
2) socio-economic problems, demographic growth and difficulties with youth employment are called a key element in the radicalization of the population and especially youth;
3) the costs of the “transition period”, when there is a process of rethinking the established traditions and values, which happens in Tajikistan.
One of the external threats is considered to be the impact on the information environment, with the aim of forming and imposing public opinion from the outside.
An analysis of the events of the “Arab spring” shows that the superiority of external information resources over national information sources leads to the detrimental consequences associated with demotivation and the rapid pace of self-estrangement of the population, which leads to the radicalization of society and the intensification of extremist movements.
Another important point is the export of non-traditional religious scholars from various regions of the Islamic world, who, taking into account the transition period, as well as religious illiteracy of the population, find their supporters.
With the strengthening of the information society, the media and information and communication technologies (ICT) play an important role in the process of shaping public opinion and reorienting citizens to various ideas.
Media and ICT are powerful tools
Brainwashing, which can significantly affect and redirect potential consumers to the right direction. The analysis shows that the media and ICT, especially social networks, are widely used by extremist groups to spread their ideas.
The research results show that the reasons for attracting citizens (some of them are opposite to each other) are based on the following factors: – lack of permanent work;
– lack of religious education; – problems with “socialization”; – life in difficult conditions (lack of opportunity for development); – “brainwashing” and falling under the influence of a negative (radical) worldview; – people from “problem” and “single-parent” families, etc .; – people from wealthy families: experts refer them to the “middle class”, from a family of entrepreneurs, intellectuals (teachers, doctors, etc.); – with a religious education or with a family of local release figures; – “successful people” who were engaged in entrepreneurship (business), i.e. had their own business, and raised children, sent their parents to Hajj, etc.
Change for the better
Thus, there are no general reasons for attracting citizens to terrorist organizations. Each example is unique and requires a special approach to clarify the causes and factors. A significant part of the citizens of Tajikistan who became members of terrorist groups were labor migrants. Therefore, the factor of labor migration primarily plays a decisive role in the study of this problem and acts as a tool.
It should be noted that in recent years the worldview and values of labor migrants have changed – their view of life, religion and, in general, the environment. There is a transformation in the behavior of labor migrants when using social networks. The role of this factor in attracting youth to terrorist groups has been studied sufficiently.
Thus, the “recovery” of the information sphere, as well as the content of social networks, can play a positive role in preventing radicalism and extremism.
Of course, the adoption of the National Strategy for the Prevention of Extremism and Terrorism until 2020 played a positive role. In general, Tajikistan is the first of the Central Asian countries where, by Decree of the President of the country E. Rahmon of November 12, 2016, the National Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan on Countering Extremism and Terrorism for 2016-2020 and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Strategy of the Republic were approved Tajikistan on countering extremism and terrorism for 2016-2020 ”.
In accordance with this Strategy, central and local executive bodies have developed their own action plans to prevent extremism and radicalism.
The national strategy is a programmatic document that defines the goals, objectives and main directions of the state policy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of countering extremism and terrorism for 2016-2020.
The strategy notes that in order to effectively counter extremism and terrorism, it is necessary to develop and implement a “set of measures aimed at neutralizing the ideological, socio-economic, legal and institutional factors of their activation”.
The strategy is aimed at carrying out explanatory work among citizens of the republic, especially with young people from the central and local government bodies, local government bodies, so that the country’s population does not fall under the influence of radical ideologies of extremist and terrorist groups that incite religious discord in society, recruit youth in their ranks to commit crimes of an extremist and terrorist nature, seeking to change the socio-political system of the country Enforced ways.
In general, the main goals of the Strategy are aimed at all citizens of the country and the formation of comprehensive measures to counter extremism and terrorism. During the implementation of the Strategy, a large-scale work was carried out among the population, including among young people. In the text of the Strategy, young citizens as the main social group of influence are not allocated, but the implemented measures, undoubtedly, have a positive effect on young people.
Read more https://polit-asia.kz/opytnyj-tadzhikistan/
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