Author: Rushdi al-Pashia

Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Central Asia (15/6 – 60) On 28 April, President Emomali Rahmon who has ruled Tajikistan since 1992 signed into law a Decree imposing the Procedure for “burying the bodies of terrorists neutralised in the course of a counterterrorism operation”. In the regime’s parlour, this means the bodies of those killed and/or assassinated. The new procedure denies the families of those killed in what the regime calls “anti-terrorism operations” the possibility of burying the dead in a place they want, knowing where the dead are buried, investigating how the death occurred, and burying the dead with the religious or…

MAKKAH: The Cultural Skills Competition for school students will be held on May 28 under the auspices of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Education Minister Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan.The national competition was launched in a partnership between the two ministries.The Ministry of Education said that the competition — which includes male and female students from primary grades four, five and six, as well as students from the intermediary and secondary stages— is the first of its kind in the Kingdom.In the event’s closing ceremony, victorious students in the six categories of the competition — literature,…

You are not Forgotten. Berlin, Brussels (16/5 – 40) In the vast mountain lands of Central Asia, a small ethnic group located at the crossroads of Afghanistan, China, and Russia is struggling for its very survival in the face of a national program that, some experts argued, is tantamount to ethnic cleansing. The Pamiris of Tajikistan were granted autonomy by the USSR and reside in Gorno-Badakhshan region known as the GBAO. For years, the Pamiris’ ancient traditions, peaceful religious faith, and highly educated populace, accused by Tajikistan President Imomali Rahmon of being “inbred” and run by “criminals”, have faced a…

China welcomes more quality products from Central Asia to enter its market, amid efforts to boost trade and economic cooperation, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday. While encouraging its companies to set up warehouses in Central Asian countries, China will open up its e-commerce platforms to Central Asian businesses, said spokesperson Shu Jueting at a press conference. The country will expand digital trade with Central Asia, and share experience in developing cutting-edge digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and 5G, Shu said. China will promote the construction of cross-border infrastructure facilities, strengthen cooperation in oil, natural gas, new-energy…

Republic of Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest in the world. Kazakhstan was the last of the Soviet republics to declare independence on December 16, 1991. Kazakhstan’s 131 ethnicity include Kazakhs (63% of the population), Russians, Uzbeks, Ukrainians, Germans, Tatars, and Uyghurs. Islam is the religion of about 70% of the population. Kazakhstan women have started to fascinate world’s male population’s attention in recent years. Perhaps the reason is that only recently it has been discovered that Kazakhstan is not only a marvelous country of beautiful nature, but also of beautiful women. No wonder…

Peaceful coexistence is the only option in an era of globalization and intermingling religions and cultures, said Kazakh Minister of Information and Social Development, Darkhan Kydyrali, at the forum World Governments: An Incubator for Tolerance, a side event of the Annual Investment Meeting held in Abu Dhabi on May 8-10, reported the ministry’s press service on May 10. The forum was initiated to consider the role of tolerance and coexistence in achieving sustainable economic growth and to find solutions to discrimination and intolerance. According to Kydyrali, the values of tolerance, human brotherhood, and peace are vital in countering the challenges…

You are not Forgotten. Berlin, Brussels (12/5 – 40) In the vast mountain lands of Central Asia, a small ethnic group located at the crossroads of Afghanistan, China, and Russia is struggling for its very survival in the face of a national program that, some experts argued, is tantamount to ethnic cleansing. The Pamiris of Tajikistan were granted autonomy by the USSR and reside in Gorno-Badakhshan region known as the GBAO. For years, the Pamiris’ ancient traditions, peaceful religious faith, and highly educated populace, accused by Tajikistan President Imomali Rahmon of being “inbred” and run by “criminals”, have faced a…

You are not Forgotten Berlin, Brussels (13/5 – 40) The Ismaili Pamiris of Tajikistan are a tiny minority group in Central Asia, whose ancient homeland lies in the remote and forbidding mountains that straddle the borders of Afghanistan, China, and Russia. Despite their small numbers, they have long been targeted for persecution by the authoritarian government of Tajikistan. In recent years, this has escalated into a full-blown campaign of ethnic cleansing, with President Imomali Rahmon seeking to eradicate this community and replace them with ethnic Tajiks. The Pamiris reside in the Gorno-Badakhshan region (GBAO), which became a warzone in May…

Brussels, Berlin (23/5 – 62.5) Tajikistan’s civil war came to an end in 1997 with a unique truce that saw the pro-Communist government integrating members of the opposition into various government institutions. Mamadbokir “Boqir” Mamadbokirov, a Pamiri leader from the Gorno-Badakshan region, was one of these opposition members. His story is a tragic one of indomitable courage in exposing what international observers have described as a state criminal enterprise created by president-for-life Imomali Rahmon, and a peaceful sacrifice if his life that he made on May 2022 that will likely be recalled in Pamiri lore for ages to come. Through…

Governments and institutions around the world are working around the clock to fight COVID-19. Some individuals, first of all, entrepreneurs, make their input too. Kenes Rakishev and Saby Fund spent more than 40 million USD to help his country and its people to keep COVID-19 numbers low. As soon as COVID-19 struck Kazakhstan or even somewhat earlier responsible local businessmen started to brace for impact. Those who participated in charity begun to accumulate funds and develop programmes to help Kazakhstani people drive through the pandemic. Kenes Rakishev supported people with the help of Saby fund. He also aided at least two other…