The spiritual leadership of Muslims in Uzbekistan has condemned and called for action against imams and their places of worship involved in spreading extremist ideologies and inciting violence on social media and through publications. This information was reported by Radio Ozodlik, the Uzbek Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Recently, the main imams of all mosques in Tashkent received an audio message of support from Ergan Rustomov, the spiritual leader and the main imam of Tashkent, stating that “spreading extremism leads to a threat in society in social networks, as well as in inciting violence in the name of religion.” This information has been confirmed by the spiritual leadership of Muslims in Uzbekistan.

Radio Ozodlik has drawn attention to the fact that the appeal to action is based on the discovery of a non-credible document circulated on social networks, calling for certain imams’ resignation. For example, Imam Isakjan Begmetov, in his latest sermon, stated that those who called him “keshbek” (a derogatory term) are betraying the people and the authorities. 16-year-old girl Aghajon Bahromov, known for her “Ashonhoja-ota” video posted on social media, was released from custody after three days and was declared innocent. She had warned that “the girl’s head will explode in a car bomb.”

The main imam of the district of Tashlak in Fergana Province, Sharifjon Egamberdiev, was released from office in May 2023, and he was charged with maltreatment of migrant workers and sexual harassment of schoolgirls. The main imam of the “Aziz-Ota” mosque in Tashkent, Mirsobit Vokhidov, who had criticized the imams calling them religious hypocrites, was released from office in September 2022 and went on to try to reorganize the religious leaders.

At that time, imams expressing their opinions were accused on social networks of undermining their official activities. “They told us that this was Mufte’s [Mufti Nuriddin Kholidzharov’s] order. They connected our hands and feet,” said one of the imams.