بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Call to Islam will Correct the Tyranny of Zhaparov and Tashiev
The autumn of 2024 in Kyrgyzstan marked a transitional moment, from dictatorship, to a brutal totalitarian system. Not so long ago, many analysts spoke of Kyrgyzstan as ‘an island of democracy in Central Asia’, but today it has turned into another prison of the Kremlin's peoples.
The Kremlin has been looking for the right personnel for a long time, and used all the same methods that were previously practiced in the neighbouring republics. This is bringing to power greedy and unprincipled individuals who are not afraid to spill the blood of Muslims, brazenly lying to the people, skillful hypocrites and faithfully serving their masters.
The newly-established authorities used a proven method, such as the imaginary threat of a coup and attack on the state by malicious forces from outside. Thus, the head of the GKNB, Kamchybek Tashiev, spoke about attempts on President S. Zhaparov and himself. At a press conference on 20 November, Tashiev said: “I am not afraid of you, you should be afraid of me.’ The head of the GKNB of Kyrgyzstan spoke about threats against him: ‘This morning I came to work and this package arrived at my post office. Inside the envelope was sealed. There was a single flash drive, there was nothing else. I will give this flash drive to you. I only showed it to the president”.
The co-operation, Tashiev-Zhaparov, began back in 2010, when they were together deputies to the Zhogorku Kenesh from the same party, Ata-Zhurt. In 2012, Sadyr Zhaparov advocated for the nationalisation of Kumtor, the largest gold ore deposit in Kyrgyzstan. Then, during the protests, Zhaparov and Tashiev were arrested. Zhaparov was charged under Article 295 of the Criminal Code (‘Forcible seizure of power or forcible retention of power’) and sentenced to one year and six months in prison. But soon, after public pressure, Zhaparov was released. In 2017, Zhaparov was arrested again and sentenced to 11.5 years for taking hostage the governor of Issyk-Kul region, Emilbek Kaptagaev.
In October 2020, mass protests against the results of the parliamentary elections began in Kyrgyzstan. Kamchybek Tashiev took advantage of the moment to release Sadyr Zhaparov and brought him to the central square of Bishkek, where Zhaparov made a beautiful speech with promises to build a good future. In the evening of that day, members of parliament at the Dostuk Hotel approved Zhaparov's appointment as the country's prime minister. In January 2021, Zhaparov took part in the elections and won a convincing victory and became the new president of the country.
Shortly afterwards, Zhaparov began to restructure the vertical of power in the country, held a referendum on the form of government, changing the parliamentary system to a presidential one, thus giving himself broad powers. Immediately, he ordered the creation of the Cabinet of Ministers and renamed the post of Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic to Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. After taking office as president, Zhaparov also made major changes in the military sphere.
As for his friend, Kamchybek Tashiev, he was appointed a chairman of the State Committee for National Security in October 2020. In 2023, Zhaparov awarded Tashiev the title ‘Hero of Kyrgyzstan’. In August 2024, Zhaparov promoted him to the rank of Colonel-General. In the process of building a new authoritarian regime, we watched as the president and his friend systematically tightened the screws on the country and removed anyone who got in their way.
First of all, as head of the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security (GKNB), Tashiev was engaged in the improvement of buildings for the special services. According to the presidential administration and special services, more than 50 new office buildings for the GKNB have been opened over the past three years. Most of the employees of the special services have been provided with housing, received a substantial salary increase, and were given broad powers.
At the same time, the head of the GKNB engaged in the fight against corruption and disobedient businessmen. In the summer of 2024, Tashiev stated that: ‘There were troubled times in the past when people's wealth, numerous enterprises were bought for cheap money or privatised in a corrupt way. These individuals took possession of the people's property and got rich for 30 years. This is the people's wealth and it belongs to the people. We will put everything in order. It is not just a few people who should get rich, but the whole nation. Therefore, the fight against corruption will continue.
All this looks beautiful, but in fact, it is happening, on the contrary, according to the Russian scenario. Power passes from one hand to another. When Putin came to power, he began by first of all strengthening the security services, rallying his team around him, fighting criminal elements, corruption, declaring war on extremism and terrorism, eventually closing all NGOs and eventually becoming the new Tsar of All Russia, taking all power into his own hands.
We see a similar scenario in Kyrgyzstan. If this continues, Zhaparov will eventually remain in power alone and for a long time, as exemplified by the neighbouring republics. Foreign media and undesirable journalists are practically squeezed out of the country, and the remaining ones are under the strictest control of the authorities. Criminals and businessmen have been left without trousers and one after another have queued up for prison. The war against extremism and terrorism has begun.
Unfortunately, the people still have not understood what happened, and are rejoicing at the supposed successes of the new-found power of tyrants. Obviously, this is the policy of big brother, Russia, which is cunningly helping the criminal duo to build a new authoritarian state, in the interests of Russia and for the policy of Russia.
The country's Muslims were the first to suffer. The list of banned Islamic organisations has increased, followed by a rapidly growing list of banned religious literature, which is recognised as extremist by various kinds of fatwas and expert examinations by court imams and clerics. And as a consequence, we see mass searches and arrests in the homes of sincere Muslims calling for the revival of the Islamic way of life. Over 50 members of an Islamic political party of the Hizb ut Tahrir have been arrested in the last year. Not only men but also women have been arrested. Special services torture and kill Muslims in prisons with impunity, under the pretext of fighting terrorism.
The active and productive work of Muslims to revive the Islamic way of life is of great concern to the tyrants and their masters, as the people of Kyrgyzstan, being Muslims, are increasingly practicing Islam in their daily lives. Women are covering themselves and becoming chaste, taking care of children and the family hearth, strengthening the future generation in the bosom of Islam. Men remove themselves from festivities and all sorts of sinful things. In some cities, people close shops selling alcoholic beverages and destroy many thousands of batches of alcohol. Despite the outrage of the authorities, Muslims crack down on brothels, punishing prostitutes and their clients. Muslims go door-to-door and urge the people to follow Sharia law, despite the authorities' constant attacks on Muslims spreading Islam.
It is very unfortunate that Muslims still confuse trust with negligence, naivety with responsibility. Muslims naively believe the false words of the enemies of Islam, and trust them to rule. In fact, there can be no irresponsibility here! After all, ruling is the most important pillar of Islam, which leads to the right or wrong implementation of all laws. If the ruler does not rule according to the laws of Allah, the whole state and nation suffers the consequences of a wrong system with which Allah is displeased. If the ruler rules according to the laws of Allah, then the state is prosperous, Allah is pleased with it and the people are well off.
Islam has made the report of the rulers an obligation for the Muslims, and has ordered that the rulers should be accounted for with the righteous word wherever they are. The Muslims, when they swore an oath to the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) at Aqaba, swore an oath to him to speak the true word and said the following:
«...وَأَنْ نَقُولَ الْحَقَّ حَيْثُمَا كُنَّا لَا نَخَافُ فِي اللَّهِ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ»
‘...And to speak the truth wherever it is, without fearing the censure of the one who censures’.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) clearly ordered to reprimand the rulers. It is transmitted from Atiyyah and he from Abu Sa'id who transmitted the words of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him):
«أَفْضَلُ الْجِهَادِ كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ» ‘The best jihad is a word of truth spoken to an unjust ruler’. It is narrated from Abu Amam:
«عَرَضَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلٌ عِنْدَ الْجَمْرَةِ الْأُولَى فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَيُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ؟ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ. فَلَمَّا رَمَى الْجَمْرَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ سَأَلَهُ، فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ. فَلَمَّا رَمَى جَمْرَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ، وَوَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الْغَرْزِ لِيَرْكَبَ، قَالَ: أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ؟ قَالَ: أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ تُقَالُ عِنْدَ ذِي سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ»
‘He approached the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) while throwing the first stone (during Hajj) and he asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is the best jihad. The Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) remained silent, when he was throwing the second stone he asked again, but the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) remained silent, but when he threw the last pebble he put his foot in the stirrup and asked: ‘Where is the questioner?’ He was answered, ‘It is I, the Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘A word of truth spoken to an unjust ruler.’
This hadith says that it is obligatory to speak the truth before the ruler and reprimand him. The Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) urged us to admonish the unjust rulers, no matter how many difficulties there may be on this path, and even if it leads to death. It is narrated from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he said:
«سَيِّدُ الشُّهَدَاءِ حَمْزَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ ، وَرَجُلٌ قَامَ إلَى إمَامٍ جَائِرٍ فَأَمَرَهُ وَنَهَاهُ ، فَقَتَلَهُ»
‘The leader of the martyrs for the faith (shahid), Hamza ibn Abdulmuttalib, opposed a cruel ruler, gave him advice and was executed by him.’ These clear expressions encourage one to patiently endure hardships, even to the point of death, on the path of reprimanding rulers and fighting their injustice. And what can be a greater injustice than ruling not according to the laws of Allah!?
The struggle against the tyranny of the rulers, an account of all affairs and treacherous plots against Islam and Muslims that are plotted by the tyrants against the people is a duty that Allah has ordered us!
The fulfilment of this duty removes the barriers that exist between the people and the rulers, and makes the people and the rulers one, providing a new beginning to change the corrupt reality, and is the beginning of the path of true change.
This true change and the beginning of development is only possible on the basis of Islam, and this cannot be achieved without establishing government on Islamic doctrine and choosing rulers on this basis. This is achieved through ideological and political work among the people, which include reporting the unjust ruler, calling for the approvable and calling for the detachment of the reprehensible. And may Allah help us!
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb utr Tahrir by
Eldar Khamzin