The Islamic movement in Kyrgyzstan in the post-Soviet period and its effect on religion-state relations

Within the scope of this study, the spread of the Islamic movement in Kyrgyzstan in the post-Soviet period and the effect of Islamic movements on religion-state relations were tried to be placed in a basic order in the axis of the international relations discipline. The anti-religious policies implemented by the Soviets in the region before independence and the scientific atheist approach led to a religious orientation in the Central Asian region in general and in Kyrgyzstan in particular after independence. The libertarian environment has prepared a suitable ground for the formation of Islamic movements, as well as an increase in the activities of religious institutions and organizations, including missionary groups. These Islamic movements have affected both society and religion-state relations in Kyrgyzstan with their activities. The proliferation of these Islamic movements, the increase in their fields of activity and their influence on the public have begun to worry the state. As the violence by Islamic movements and the threat of radical Islam started to create a security problem in the country, the Kyrgyzstan government imposed restrictions on these Islamic movements. In addition, the system, which became increasingly rigid due to the liberal environment in the country, made itself felt by the legal, institutional, and religious-social changes implemented in the country. The religious institutions and organizations of the state, Islamic movements, and restrictions brought to control religious orientation put the more important issues such as human values, fundamental rights and freedoms, and religious education in the background, and this situation poses significant problems in the country. The thesis aims to explain these problems, their effects, Islamic movements, the factors that cause these movements, and their reflections on religion-state relations with the deductive method. Because Islamic movements are important in terms of influencing religion-state relations and the state's religion policy in Kyrgyzstan. Despite the measures taken and regulations and policies implemented, the absence of an established order and a systematic education system in Kyrgyzstan creates an environment suitable for the re-distribution of Islamic movements.