On December 22, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered a speech at the expanded meeting of the Republican Center for Morale and Enlightenment. In his speech, he emphasized that “powerful centres in the world have openly started to take the path of pressure, confrontation, and conflicts,” and that “it is certainly not easy to find the right path that meets the national interests of Uzbekistan in such a severe situation. The situation is complex and dangerous.” According to him, the pressures faced by Uzbekistan from major countries are increasing, and the international situation has become tense, causing concern. He indicated that today, as the international situation becomes more complicated, it is extremely difficult to please all colonial powers without discrimination, such as the United States, Russia, and China, which view the region through a colonial lens, especially Uzbekistan. In such a situation, there seems to be no suitable way other than finding the “golden mean” in politics.

Mirziyoyev continued in his speech: “At a time when our country is entering a new and advanced stage of its development, we need mature employees, like our ancestors, who grew up with the spirit of national values alongside the achievements of Western science.” From his words, we can understand that the government is ready to promote any idea, even if it is false, to divert our youth from accepting Islam as an Aqeedah (belief) and a political system. Particularly, it is not coincidental that attempts to use the ideas of the New Thought movement, which is based on the concept of narrow nationalism, have intensified recently. It is no secret that the government seeks to redirect the aspirations of our Muslim youth towards Islam in another direction and replace their love for it with fake and trivial things.

Mirziyoyev’s words not only confirmed the mentioned ideas but also sent a chill through the heart of every believer. He indicated that “from abroad and sometimes even from within the country itself, positions contrary to the constitution and laws are promoted through social networks, including cases of incitement of youth to ignorance instead of knowledge under the guise of religious beliefs. False calls emerge advocating for polygamy, asserting that women should not work, they must stay at home, and they should not seek education, and that worldly values are forbidden.” He also added: “In such cases, we must combat ignorance with knowledge.”

Since Mirziyoyev’s discussion about women’s issues is completely misleading, we will set it aside for now. However, describing the call for polygamy and stating that it contradicts secular democratic values as a “false call” is a complete overstep. Is the government, when raising obedient, silent, and ignorant youth through democratic secular values, leading with knowledge, while those calling them to Islam are leading them into “ignorance”? How is this possible? When you say such things, do you not remember that you are one of the sons of Muslims? In any case, this matter is not about simple things; it is about calling to the Deen (religion) of Allah, spreading the Shariah prescribed by Allah, and commanding their conveyance. Allah Almighty described the call to His Deen as the best of words ever spoken, saying:

[وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ]

“And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah and does righteousness and says, “Indeed, I am of the Muslims.”” [Fussilat:33].

But you continue to make these dangerously false accusations, and the Mufti sits in the front rows of the meeting! If Mufti Nuruddin were truly a sincere religious leader in his faith and devoted to your leadership, he should have, at the very least, expressed his objection by leaving the meeting because Allah (swt) says:

[وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ ۚ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَامِعُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا]

“And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together” [An-Nisa:140].

O Mr. Mirziyoyev, if your ‘knowledge’ is these democratic values, then Islam and Muslims are certainly innocent of them! Because democracy is a kufr system that contradicts Islam, which is the only guarantee for progress and advancement. Moreover, democrats like America and Europe are the ones aiding the Jewish entity in slaughtering our Muslim brothers and sisters, especially children, with utmost brutality before the eyes of the whole world. Isn’t that so?! Tell us frankly, how dare you label this democracy as knowledge and call the Deen of Allah, and even some of its rulings, ignorance?! Or does it seem tempting to you to follow in the footsteps of your tyrannical predecessor Karimov against Islam and Muslims?

The truth is, he tried with all his might to silence the voices of the Islamic dawah and stop their great work through persecution, imprisonment, and finally physical elimination… but he did not achieve this wicked goal and died in disgrace, while the works of the dawah, Alhamdulilah, continue and will continue. Allah Almighty says:

[يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ]

“They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.” [At-Tawba:32].

O Mr. Mirziyoyev, if you intend to do what the tyrant Karimov did, you will not be able to do more than he did. However, do not worry; you will never succeed in this matter. If you do not awaken your minds and stop daring to oppose the Deen of Allah, you will become cursed like Karimov, and your fate will be destruction and loss.

By Allah, the truth and its people will prevail, and kufr and its people will be defeated. The reality is that they have already lost with their ideology, but they do not want to admit it. O Mr. Mirzayev, if you and the government continue to stand with the kuffar, be prepared to drown together on their sinking ship! Because the time is very near when the Islamic Ummah awaits patiently the return of the Khilafah (Caliphate), blessed by Allah, filling the world with goodness. On that day, the believers will rejoice in the victory of Allah, while the kuffar and those who follow them will grieve!

[لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ مِن قَبْلُ وَمِن بَعْدُ ۚ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ*بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ]

“To Allah belongs the command before and after. And that day the believers will rejoice * In the victory of Allah. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.” [Ar-Rum:4-5].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Uzbekistan

Press Release
15 Jumada II 1445 – Thursday, 28th December 2023
No: 08 / 1445
(Translated)