What Religion is Uzbekistan? An Overview of Religious Demographics and History

Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia with a rich religious history dating back thousands of years. Today, the main religions in Uzbekistan are Islam and Orthodox Christianity.

However, the religious demographics have shifted over time due to various historical events and government policies. This article will provide an overview of the main religions in Uzbekistan, their history in the region, and their current status.

What are the Main Religions in Uzbekistan Today?

According to recent surveys, the current religious makeup of Uzbekistan is approximately:

• Islam – 88% of the population. Most Uzbek Muslims are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school.
• Orthodox Christianity – 9%. Most Christians in Uzbekistan belong to the Russian Orthodox Church.
• Other religions – 3%. This includes various minority religious groups such as Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists, Baha’is, Hare Krishnas, and others.

So while Islam is by far the dominant religion, Orthodox Christianity and other faiths are also present in Uzbekistan. The government promotes religious tolerance, though some restrictions have been placed on minority religious groups over the years.

Historical Origins of Islam in Uzbekistan

Islam first came to Central Asia in the 8th century with the Umayyad Caliphate’s eastward expansion, making inroads into the region’s pre-Islamic Zoroastrian and Buddhist cultures.

The Karakhanid Khanate, a Turkic dynasty, was among the first Turkic tribes to embrace Islam in the 10th century. Under their rule, Islamic influence grew stronger in the region around modern-day Uzbekistan.

In the 12th century, Central Asia was conquered by the Turko-Persian Khwarezm Empire, which adhered to Sunni Islam of the Hanafi school. This solidified Islamic belief and practice in the region.

In the early 13th century, the Mongols invaded Central Asia. Initially opposed to Islam, the Mongols later converted to the religion and fused it with their own shamanistic and tribal customs. This further spread Islamic culture in Uzbekistan and Central Asia as a whole.

So by the late Middle Ages, Islam was firmly rooted in Central Asia through the various Turkic and Mongol states that controlled the region. On this foundation, the Islamic heritage in Uzbekistan continues to modern times.

History of Orthodox Christianity in Uzbekistan

Orthodox Christianity has a long but minority presence in Central Asia and Uzbekistan. Some of the earliest Christian communities were established by the Church of the East (Nestorians) as early as the 1st century AD.

In the 14th century, the Russian Orthodox Church began missionary work in the region. This gained a foothold among minority Christian groups, especially in western parts of Central Asia.

Under the Russian Empire’s expansion into Central Asia in the 19th century, many Orthodox churches were built and Orthodox Christianity was promoted among the indigenous populations.

During the Soviet era, religious affiliation was generally suppressed though limited Orthodox church activity continued. With Uzbekistan’s independence in 1991, Orthodox Christianity revived with support from the growing ethnic Russian minority.

Today, over 500 Orthodox churches and chapels operate in Uzbekistan under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church. Christmas and Easter are marked as national holidays alongside Muslim celebrations, showing the Orthodox Christian heritage’s significance, albeit among a smaller portion of the Uzbek population.

Religious Policies Under Different Rulers

Uzbekistan’s religious makeup has been shaped over the centuries by the various policies of its rulers:

• Pre-Islamic rulers like the Sogdians, Persians, and Turks had polytheistic and syncretic belief systems combining local, Buddhist, Manichaean, Zoroastrian, and animistic traditions.
• Early Islamic rulers like the Samanids, Karakhanids and Khwarezmshahs actively promoted and spread Sunni Islam of the Hanafi school in the region.
• Mongol conquerors initially repressed Islam but later assimilated and spread the religion. The Timurid dynasty restored Islamic architecture and art.
• Under the Russian Empire, Orthodox Christianity was patronized while Islamic institutions were discouraged. But Islam remained deeply entrenched.
• The Soviet government promoted state atheism and suppressed religious practice. Many mosques were closed down.
• Uzbekistan’s government today seeks to balance promotion of Islamic culture alongside secular governance and religious tolerance. Minority Christian groups have regained some freedoms.

So government policies over the centuries have shifted between encouraging Islamic practice and Uzbek national heritage on the one hand, and suppressing religion during the Russian and Soviet periods on the other. These complex dynamics have shaped Uzbekistan’s modern religious identity.

Islamic Cultural Heritage in Uzbekistan

While Islam in Uzbekistan has followed various trajectories, a rich Islamic cultural heritage deeply shapes the country. Some highlights of Uzbekistan’s Islamic architecture and culture include:

• Magnificent mosques, mausoleums and madrasas constructed by masters of Islamic architecture. These include the beautiful Tile Minarets in Samarkand.
• Sacred pilgrimage sites like the Shakhi-Zinda necropolis of tile-covered ancient tombs.
• The legacy of medieval Islamic scholars like Imam al-Bukhari, who compiled the famous hadith collection Sahih al-Bukhari in Uzbekistan over 1,000 years ago.
• Ancient manuscripts from the Timurid dynasty era, especially works on medicine, astronomy, literature and sciences.
• Muslim festivals and celebrations like Ramadan and Eid which involve special prayers, charity, and community events.
• Uzbek cuisine with halal meats, breads like flat naan, rice pilaf dishes, and green tea.
• A tradition of Islamic architecture called Khorezm which combines ornate geometric tilework with arched gates and domed ceilings.

This cultural heritage continues to infuse Uzbekistan’s national identity today, attracting tourism while maintaining devotion among the majority Muslim populace.

Religious Freedom Issues

While Uzbekistan’s post-independence constitution formally provides for freedom of religion, some concerns have been raised over restrictions in practice:

• Proselytism and missionary work by religious groups need state approval, which can be difficult to obtain.
• It is illegal to teach one’s faith without specialized religious training approved by the state.
• Only clerics approved by the government-controlled Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Uzbekistan can lead services at mosques.
• Minority religious groups face discrimination and harassment, especially more recent Protestant or Evangelical denominations.
• Government surveillance and infiltration of mosques has increased, aimed at rooting out radicalism and anti-government sentiment.
• Owning unauthorized religious texts can lead to fines or imprisonment.

So while not overtly banning religious practice, Uzbekistan’s government tightly regulates public manifestations of Islam and other faiths, skewing the religious landscape toward state-sanctioned denominations. Despite these restrictions, private worship and the country’s Islamic heritage thrive.

The Complex History of Jadidism in Uzbekistan

Jadidism was an Islamic reformist intellectual movement that emerged in Central Asia in the late 19th century. In Uzbekistan, Jadidists sought to modernize Islamic education and cultures as a response to Russian colonialism. Some key points:

• Jadidists advocated for modern secular subjects in madrasas, new pedagogical methods, updated textbooks on science and math, and women’s education.
• They opened “New Method” schools and promoted literature, poetry, and theater with moral themes.
• Jadidism spread rapidly in the early 1900s in Uzbek cities like Bukhara and Samarkand.
• The Soviets initially courted Jadidists as progressive allies but later shifted to repressing all religions. Jadidism was stamped out.

So Jadidism showed an indigenous attempt to engage with modernity grounded in Islamic ethics. But Soviet policies ultimately created a rupture with this reformist intellectual heritage that influenced generations of Uzbek Muslims.

Remnants of Jadidism’s progressive spirit remain in Uzbekistan’s blended religious and secular identity. But more conservative Islam dominates public life today.

Limited Recent Growth of Other Minority Faiths

While Islam has deep roots in Uzbekistan, other religious minorities have attempted to gain a foothold:

• Orthodox Christianity has grown with support from the ethnic Russian population and some converts among other groups. But strict conversion laws limit evangelism.
• Catholic and various Protestant churches have small memberships, facing suspicion as foreign influencers. Baptist and Pentecostal groups are monitored.
• Buddhism had dwindled after the 8th century but is practiced by a tiny fraction in Uzbekistan, mostly among ethnic Koreans.
• The small Jewish community focuses mostly on culture rather than religiosity after decades of isolation under the Soviets.
• Baha’i communities can officially register but individual members face persecution for alleged ties to Israel.
• The Hare Krishna (ISKCON) movement has a tiny presence.

So while minority faiths have not flourished, they add diversity to Uzbekistan’s religious fabric. With government promotion of tolerance alongside tight regulation, small steps toward pluralism coexist with dominant Islamic tradition.

The Controversial Legacy of Islamic Radicalism

In the 1990s and 2000s, Uzbekistan faced threats from Islamic radicalism, leading to government crackdowns:

• The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), formed in the 1990s, aimed to establish an Islamic state with militancy. It perpetrated various attacks and bombings.
• Hizb ut-Tahrir, another militant group, was active clandestinely, distributing radical literature.
• These groups gained followers among unemployed youths or those disillusioned after the Soviet collapse. Neighboring conflicts in Afghanistan and Tajikistan also had effects.
• The government of President Karimov used heavy-handed methods to suppress these groups, with torture, mass jailings, and likely civilian massacres.
• Restrictions on mainstream Muslims were also enacted under the guise of combating radicalism. Conservative Islamic practices were banned.
• After Karimov’s death in 2016, some changes emerged. His successor Mirziyoyev eased restrictions on religious dress, released some prisoners, and closed the infamous Jaslyk prison facility.

So Islamic radicalism posed dilemmas in balancing freedoms and security. With lessons learned, Uzbekistan continues seeking a moderate religious path.

The Significance of Islam in Uzbek National Identity

For most Uzbek people today, Islam and national heritage are deeply intertwined:

• Mosques, Sufi shrines, and madrasas serve as community hubs infusing local culture.
• Islamic aesthetics are found from architecture to poetry, textiles, ceramics, and calligraphy.
• Muslim festivals structure the calendar and bring families together based on shared traditions.
• Maintaining Islamic traditions provides a sense of community and continuity with the past.
• Islam inspires moral and ethical values based on fairness, hospitality, charity and respect for elders.
• Moderate Islamic beliefs accommodate modern lifestyles and aspirations among the younger generation.
• As a vital part of heritage, Islam garners state support as long as it accepts secular governance.

So for now, Islam looks to remain a central pillar of identity and culture for the majority of the population in Uzbekistan.

The Complexity of Religious Identity in Modern Uzbekistan

In today’s Uzbekistan, religious identity involves complex negotiations between state and society:

• The government promotes secular values and tolerance while tightly regulating public religious activity.
• Most Uzbeks balance moderate Islamic practice with modern secular life and entertainment.
• Youth embrace global culture while accepting familial and community Islamic traditions.
• Radical groups are suppressed but pockets of militancy may reemerge if reforms stagnate.
• Minority religious rights are limited by conversion laws but small steps toward pluralism exist.
• Tourism infrastructure promotes Islamic heritage sites while downplaying current devotion.
• As in its past, Uzbekistan’s future religious landscape may shift based on government policies and global currents.

So while firmly Islamic, Uzbekistan’s multifaceted religious identity remains informed by the country’s complex history and dynamic present as its people navigate modernity grounded in heritage.

Conclusion

In summary, while almost 90% of Uzbekistan’s population is Muslim today, its religious history is quite diverse and complex. Islam arrived in the region over a thousand years ago and flourished under various Turkic and Persian empires. But Orthodox Christianity and other faiths also hold a presence.

During the Russian colonial and Soviet eras, Islamic institutions were suppressed though religion persisted privately. Since independence in 1991, the government has aimed to balance moderate Islamic practice, secular governance, and its multiethnic population’s freedoms.

Uzbekistan’s magnificent Islamic architectural heritage stands as testament to its role in global Islamic civilization. Yet its model of integrating Islamic and secular identity may offer lessons for faith in the modern world. With policies emphasizing moderation and religious rights, Uzbekistan can hopefully maintain this balanced path.

So while clearly an Islamic country given its demographic makeup, Uzbekistan is at a crossroads between its heritage and future, balancing vibrant Islamic traditions with secular principles amidst global pressures. This complex religious identity will continue evolving as Uzbekistan’s diverse society addresses modern challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions about Religion in Uzbekistan

What percentage of Uzbekistan is Muslim?

Currently around 88-90% of the population of Uzbekistan adheres to Islam, mostly Sunni Muslims following the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence.

What other religions are practiced in Uzbekistan besides Islam?

Orthodox Christianity is practiced by close to 9% of the Uzbek population, most belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church. Other small religious groups include Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists, Baha’is, Hare Krishnas, and some followers of ancient local tengriism.

How did Islam spread to Uzbekistan?

Islam first arrived in Central Asia in the 8th century with the Arab Umayyad Caliphate’s expansion into the region. Local Turkic and Persian dynasties like the Samanids and Karakhanids later embraced Islam and propagated the faith from the 10th century onwards.

What is the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan?

The IMU is an Islamic militant organization formed in the 1990s that aimed to overthrow Uzbekistan’s government and establish an Islamic state. It used terrorist tactics and was targeted by security crackdowns. Its presence has declined in recent years.

Are there restrictions on religious freedom in Uzbekistan?

Uzbekistan’s constitution provides for religious freedom but with significant restrictions. Religious groups must register with the state which issues constraints on proselytization. The government closely monitors Islamic activity to counter radicalism.

What is the predominant Islamic sect in Uzbekistan?

The majority of Muslims in Uzbekistan are Sunni Muslims, adhering to the Hanafi school of Islamic law. Sufi traditions are also strong with shrines and followers of various Sufi tariqas. Some Shiite minority communities also exist.

How did Orthodox Christianity arrive in Uzbekistan?

Orthodox Christianity in Uzbekistan has its roots with Nestorian Christians from the 1st century AD. But most Orthodox believers today come from later Russian missionary work starting from the 14th century and expanded under the Russian Empire from the 19th century onward.

How free are religious minorities to practice their faiths?

The Uzbek government promotes religious tolerance and diversity in public. But in practice, minority religious groups face discrimination, restrictions on worship, barriers to registration and anti-proselytization laws that limit their activities. Conversion is also tightly restricted.

What religions existed in Uzbekistan before Islam arrived?

Before Islam, Uzbekistan’s religious landscape included Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Nestorian Christianity, Buddhism, Tengriism (shamanistic animism), and the Sogdian and Bactrian pagan faiths – a diverse mix reflecting its position on the Silk Road.

Are there efforts to counter Islamic radicalism in Uzbekistan?

The Uzbek government conducts thorough surveillance and control over Islamic institutions to counter radicalization and extremist influences. Critics allege that these policies also repress mainstream religious practice. A balance between security and liberties remains controversial.