To Moscow, Not Mecca : The Soviet Campaign Against Islam in Central Asia, 1917-1941

The clash between Communism and Islam in the Soviet Union pitted two socio-political systems against one another, each proclaiming ultimate truth. This study examines the first decades of the struggle in Central Asia (1917-1941), where an ancient religious tradition faced an aggressive form of secular modernity. The Soviets attempted to break down Muslim culture and remold it on Marxist-Leninist lines. Central Asians played complex roles in this effort, both defending and attacking Islam, but mostly trying to survive. Despite Stalin's totalitarian aims, the Soviet regime in Central Asia was often weak even into the 1930s, and by 1941 the opposing systems had reached a standoff. The Communist Party pursued the destruction of Islam in stages, which reflected the development of Soviet political strength. The party developed propaganda that both attacked Islam and extolled the new Soviet culture. However, the entire process was plagued by inefficiency, ignorance, and disobedience. By 1941, the Communists had inflicted tremendous damage, but customs such as circumcision, brideprice, and polygyny had merely gone underground. Central Asians had not exchanged the fundamental identity of Muslim for Marxist-Leninist. Keller utilizes documents from Moscow and Tashkent, including the now-closed former Communist Party Archive of Uzbekistan. Contents 9 A Note on Transliteration 11 Preface 13 Imperial Russia and Islam 21 RUSSIA IN CENTRAL ASIA 25 END OF IMPERIAL TURKESTAN 45 Old Empire on a New Basis 51 BUKHARA AND KHOREZM 53 ANTIRELIGION IN THE TURKESTAN ASSR 79 Soviet Central Asia: Laying a Foundation 89 UNDERMINING ISLAMIC INSTITUTIONS 100 TURNING TIDES 116 Discussing the Problem 127 ANTICLERICAL POLICIES ACROSS THE USSR 127 OPEN HOSTILITY 138 THE GREAT LURCH FORWARD 155 Breaking Islam 161 SMASHING SOCIAL PILLARS 167 CRUSHING THE CLERGY 186 Retrenchment 195 CONTINUED WAR ON THE CLERGY 220 EDUCATION AND ANTIRELIGIOUS PROPAGANDA 226 A BRIEF RESPITE 231 Second Wave 233 A MORE CONTROLLED CAMPAIGN 236 THE “STALIN” CONSTITUTION 244 NEW ARRESTS 246 Conclusion: Damaged but Not Destroyed 267 Glossary 277 ADMINISTRATIVE TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 277 UZBEK TERMS 278 Bibliography 281 ARCHIVAL SOURCES Moscow 281 Tashkent 281 PRIMARY SOURCES Books 281 SECONDARY SOURCES Books 286 Index 291 Shoshana Keller. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [261]-270) And Index.