On November 7, Uzbekistan's State Security Service reported that a Qoqon court sentenced 11 individuals to prison terms between six to twelve years for terrorism-related offenses, including financing terrorism and plotting to change the constitutional system.
These individuals were found guilty of promoting extremist ideologies during regular gatherings disguised as social events known as 'Saturday dinners' held at local teahouses, where discussions on jihad and the establishment of an Islamic state occurred.
This sentencing is part of a broader government effort to combat rising religious extremism in Qoqon, located in the Ferghana Valley, a region known for its ethnic diversity and history of conflict with both domestic and transnational Islamist groups.
The government's actions reflect deep concerns about local instability and the potential spread of extremist ideologies in a region that has historically been a hot spot for both social unrest and religious violence.
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