#211: Missionaries

I don't mind missionaries, Muslim of Christian, - they tend to be very nice people - except when they tell me I am on the path to hell and the only salvation is their way. Unlike some of my friends, I don't like to pester them with endless questions trying to find a flaw in their reasoning. However, I am dumb struck when I see an American football team called Evangel Crusaders (OMG!).

"They [Kyrgyzstani] were totally lost in the darkness. They had no clue about Christianity."

Darkness? They probably had no clue about the half a million of Orthodox Christians. In fact, these guys probably think that Orthodox Christians are not even Christian enough.

#158: Kurman Ayt

Eid Mubarak, everyone! Aytīñar maarek bolsun!
Submission: The man seems to have problems with his knees.
Kid reciting Quran
Amin!
Congratulating

#141: Islam and Politics in Ferghana Valley

RFE/RL also reports that another prisoner on charges of Islamic extremism reportedly died after being tortured. It just adds up more fuel to the fire.

#135: Religion

The Economist published a special report on religions, politics, public life. I suggest every to read it when you have free time. Here are some quotes that I thought were interesting:

We thought that the relationship was between modernisation and secularisation. In fact it was between modernisation and pluralism.” Religion is no longer taken for granted or inherited; it is based around adults making a choice, going to a synagogue, temple, church or mosque. (from here)

Ignorance rules on all sides. Most Muslims seem totally unaware that Arabs can vote in Israel. Many Jews, even in Israel, are separated from the routine miseries of Palestinian life. American evangelicals are shocked to discover that some Palestinians are Christians. (from here)

Hidayet Tuksal [wife of Turkey's PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan] is a confusing figure. Headscarfed and imposing, she grew up in a strict Muslim household in Ankara. At university in the 1980s, she focused on the Koran's teaching about women. She has since made a name arguing that much of the discrimination against women in the Islamic world has scant basis in the sacred text (because Eve was described as weak and flawed, it does not follow that all women are). For this she has got into trouble with traditionalists. (from here)

All in all, the newspaper argues that there is a strong revival of religion, which in the 20th century was suppressed by secularism in US and Europe and atheist policies in Russia (Soviet Union) and China.

#118: Eid Prayer

Last Friday I went with my father, brother, and two uncles, along with another 10 000 people to the Old (Lenin) Square for the Orozo Ait (Eid ul-Fitr) prayer. People usually start gathering starting from 7 am to occupy the best spots close the the Mufti and other imams. Before the actual prayer, which usually starts closer to 9am, the Mufti "leads the sermon" with a long lecture on the importance of fasting, alms (zakat), charity (sadaqa), prayer (namaz), and just being good Muslims.

As always, he then praised the Kyrgyz government for allowing the religious freedom and giving support to Islam "unseen in other Central Asia countries." His lectures usually have covert political messages. This time too, he called Muslims for "patience in the light of rising prices, because it was a way for Allah to test us."
Following the 10-minute prayer, people rushed to shake hands with the Mufti (in green) and Bishkek's Head Imam (in white) for soopchuluk or to "get their blessing."
I got the backstage access to take pictures
A colleague of mine, KB, was also there that morning. I always wanted to take picture of people bowing and kneeling down. These are her pictures. Great shots!

#116: Iftar Dinner

Since this is the last week of the month of Ramadan, iftar dinners (for breaking the fast) became very frequent. For almost a week I've been visiting relatives' houses for big feasts (to give you an idea, it is as big as Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.), although I did not fast this year. Usually, friends would also get together for an iftar, however, for some reason, very few friends of mine fasted this year. At my previous job, I had iftars with colleagues, but at my current job, nobody fasts.

This Friday is Orozo Ait (Eid ul-Fitr in Arabic), a holiday marking the end of Ramadan. Last year I took a few pictures from the holiday namaz (prayer). I bought Canon 350D for my office last week and I will go out and test it during the celebration.

#113: Our Hearts Beat For Change!

Russian rocker from 80s Viktor Tsoy and his band Kino had a song with a line saying "Our hearts beat for change, our eyes want to see change, our laughter and tears want change, our veins pump for change. We want change!"

Перемен! - требуют наши сердца.
Перемен! - требуют наши глаза.
В нашем смехе и в наших слезах,
И в пульсации вен: "Перемен!
Мы ждем перемен!"

There is a lot of frustration with the ways things are going in the country. Or, is it only me who is feeling this?

Update. On a separate topic, a fellow blogger, zimka, posted the film Submission of the Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who was shot and stabbed to death by Mohammed Bouyeri in 2004. Always wanted to see it. This is what he was killed for. Also frustrated how Islam is used for inhumane and totalitarian purposes. During the month of Ramadan, all the moderate and sane Muslims should speak out to overwhelm the voices of ignorant extremists and crazy fanatics.

#98: 9/11 and Ramadan

Today is the 6th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. With Afghanistan ignored and left to the mercy of warlords and Iraq on the brink of a fiasco, the world is no safer place than six year ago. Russia's 1Kanal showed a documentary (not sure if it was Spielberg's movie) commemorating the tragedy.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, Orozo in Kyrgyz. Today families will gather for arapa dinner to mark the beginning of the fast. I fasted the whole month last year, but I am thinking about it this year. Last week I signed up to a gym, but with fasting I don't think I will be able to do any of the weight-lifting exercises. Kyrgyz in general are very relaxed about religion. Fasting the first and the last three days of the month counts as well. Ramadan Mubarak! Orozonor kabyl bolsun!

Russian TV Channel, Rossiya, reported about the neo-Nazi gang arrested in Israel, but hid the fact that the arrestees were of Russian descent. Russia's FOX News. Fair and Balanced! @#$%&!

#81: Korean Missionaries

The news of Koren hostages, mostly missionaries, in Afghanistan in the headlines of the international press brought my attention to the role of Korean missionaries in Kyrgyzstan. If they are willing to go to war-torn Afghanistan, they seem to be die hard followers of Christ. According to The Economist, "Korea is second only to America when it comes to spreading the gospel." American missionary groups are complimented by Korean missionaries in the spreading "god's words" in Kyrgyzstan. However, Kyrgyzstan is a favorite place not only for Christian missionaries, but also for Muslim missionaries (dawah) due to liberal legislature on registering missionary organizations.

Report #20: Eid Prayer (Айт намаз) in Bishkek

On Tuesday, October 24, more then 50,000 people, including my father, my brother Nurbek, and myself, gathered at the old square in front of the Parliament building and the American University - Central Asia for the Eid prayer marking the end of Ramadan.

Muslims gathering together for a prayer

You could not see the end

15 years ago this would be unthinkable

Following the prayer, people shaking hands with the Mufti

The End: Going in Different Directions