The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) published a report titled The Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia. It highlights how Central Asian states including Turkmenistan misuse extremism laws to restrict freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) beyond the limits set by Article 18.3 of the ICCPR, which allows restrictions only when “prescribed by law and necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others”.
The OSCE advises that any law limiting FoRB should, among other things, “specifically address criminal conduct and not thoughts or beliefs”, “address the specific unlawful activity [instead of] targeting a religion or belief”, and “avoid vaguely defined terms”. By contrast, Central Asian governments often misuse vague extremism laws to suppress peaceful religious activities that the state considers undesirable.
Vague Definitions Enable Suppression
Turkmenistan’s 2015 Law about Countering Extremism uses vague terms to define “extremism” as an activity with various objectives, which may include religious practices. For example, the law references the incitement of enmity and the public dissemination of “extremist” materials, making it difficult for Turkmen people to ascertain which specific actions would constitute a violation of the law. Many of the definitions are also listed in the 2016 Law on Freedom of Religion and Religious Organizations, showcasing that the government draws connections between undefined “extremist” goals and religious activity.
Imprisonments and Detainments for “Extremism”
The USCIRF FoRB Victims List includes 10 individuals imprisoned in Turkmenistan for practicing their faith outside state control. Notably, in October 2023, Ashyrbay Bekiev was sentenced to 23 years in Ovadan-Depe Prison – notorious for torture and disappearances – for conducting religious classes in Russia. Others, such as Annamurad Atdaev, Kemal Saparov, and Kakadjan Halbaev, were forcibly returned from abroad and jailed on extremism charges. Similarly, Bahram Saparov was imprisoned for organizing unregistered religious meetings, and several others were jailed for studying Islamic scholar Said Nursi’s work. Authorities even detained a man for 15 days in September 2023 for teaching the Qur’an to children, labeling him “Wahhabi”.
Crackdowns Following the Crocus Terrorist Attack in Russia
In Ramadan 2024, after the Crocus terrorist attack in Russia, Turkmen authorities increased crackdowns on mosques across the country. Reports indicate from March 25, 2024 security forces:
- Harassed and interrogated young worshippers in Balkan region cities (Cheleken, Turkmenbashi and Balkanbat).
- Banned men under 50 from attending mosque prayers.
- Forced detained men to drink alcohol and shaved their beards under threats of five years in prison in Ovadan-Depe.
- Closed religious clothing shops and confiscated goods.
- Installed surveillance cameras inside mosques and forced worshipers to submit personal information.
Similar measures were imposed in Lebap region, where security forces in plainclothes infiltrated mosques, intimidated attendees, and forced worshippers to leave immediately after prayers. Officials also interrogated older men with beards. This led to a sharp drop in Friday prayer attendance, with only elderly men and children continuing to participate.
In summary, Turkmenistan, like other Central Asian states, uses vague extremism laws to justify crackdowns on peaceful religious activities, severely restricting freedom of religion. While governments have the right to address security threats, they must uphold human rights and avoid using extremism laws as a tool for repression.
