Press Release
Kyrgyzstan Aims to Pass Anti-Islam Bill!
(Translated)

The Kyrgyz government proposed two major bills to strengthen control over the religious situation in the country and put them up for public discussion in September this year. The first bill was proposed by the State Committee for Religious Affairs, and the other by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, these two bills are being passed within the framework of implementing the religious concept adopted by Kyrgyzstan for the period 2021-2026. This concept was developed in order to please the colonizers in accordance with international requirements, in particular to align the country's laws with the requirements of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The main articles of the draft law, which was submitted for public discussion by the Religious Committee on August 30, include articles such as banning the wearing of the niqab, banning the establishment of religious parties, banning the giving of religious names to parties, appointment of religious figures for a year, and banning door-to-door Islamic preaching.

According to some jurists, the ruling on wearing the niqab in Islam is obligatory for Muslim women. Therefore, since this article is contrary to an Islamic opinion, Muslims must oppose it. After all, it is the duty of all Muslims to protect every Islamic opinion. Differences in ijtihad are a matter for jurists and should be limited to their discussions.

The ruling on forming a political party based on Islam is a collective obligation. If there is no existing political party in the Ummah, or if the collective obligation is not achieved by the existing party, then the sin falls on all Muslims, except for those who assume the obligation. Allah (swt) says:

[وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ]

“Let there be a group among you who call ˹others˺ to goodness, encourage what is good, and forbid what is evil—it is they who will be successful”.

In addition, the government intends to ban preachers who deliver sermons during Friday sermons and on the Internet. The aim is to create religious figures who only speak words that please the authorities. In fact, Muslims in Islam are not divided into religious figures and secular figures, as is the case in Christianity and other religions. On the contrary, every Muslim conveys what he knows and does his best to act upon it.

Also, the ban on door-to-door Islamic preaching is being implemented in order to prevent the teaching of knowledge and the study of the Qur’an in homes, mosques and unregistered schools. The truth is that every Muslim, whether in the neighbourhood, on the street or in the mosque, tries to convey the message of Islam. If he sees something wrong, he tries to change it with his hand or tongue because the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

«مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ»

“Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” Narrated by Muslim. The Messenger of Allah (saw) reminded us of our responsibility when he said:

«لَتَأْمُرُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَلَتَنْهَوُنَّ عَنْ الْمُنْكَرِ، وَلَتَأْخُذُنَّ عَلَى يَدِ الظَّالِمِ، وَلَتَأْطِرُنَّهُ عَلَى الْحَقِّ أَطْراً، وَلَتَقْصُرُنَّهُ عَلَى الْحَقِّ قَصْراً، أَوْ لَيَضْرِبَنَّ اللهُ بِقُلُوبِ بَعْضِكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ، ثُمَّ لَيَلْعَنَنَّكُمْ كَمَا لَعَنَهُمْ»

“You must enjoin what is good and prohibit what is evil, prevent the wrongdoer, bend him into conformity with what is right, and restrict him to what is right, Or Allah will mingle your hearts together and curse you as He cursed them.”

Therefore, the bill proposed by the government contradicts Islam and its values. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid restricting the Dawah work that Allah (swt) has commanded, and prohibiting the opinion of Islam! The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:

«مَا مِنْ وَالٍ يَلِي رَعِيَّةً مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَيَمُوتُ وَهُوَ غَاشٌّ لَهُمْ إِلَّا حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ»

“Any governor in charge of Muslim subjects who dies while acting dishonestly towards them will be excluded by Allah from paradise.”[Narrated by Bukhari].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Kyrgyzstan