Author name: Freedom for Eurasia

Restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 inadvertently sparked a rise in violence against women and girls in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. By Niginakhon Saida and Svetlana Dzardanova COVID-19-related restrictions and stay-at-home orders had an impact on domestic violence across the globe. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were no exception. While prior to the pandemic, both countries had relevant regulatory and […]

As Central Asian governments tighten restrictions on the hijab in the name of upholding secularism, devout Muslim women find themselves forced to navigate an increasingly difficult choice between their faith and the law. By Niginakhon Saida and Svetlana Dzardanova “Although I began praying in sixth grade, it wasn’t until 2020 that I started wearing hijab,” Malika, a 20-year-old