On November 7, Uzbekistan's State Security Service reported a court in Qoqon sentenced 11 individuals to prison terms between six to twelve years for terrorism-related offenses. The convictions stemmed from their involvement in financing terrorism, planning to alter the constitutional structure of the state, and possessing materials that posed a threat to public safety. These individuals were found to have been promoting extremist ideologies between 2021 and 2023 through gatherings masked as social events, called 'Saturday dinners,' in local teahouses.
These 'Saturday dinners' were not merely social gatherings; they served as a platform for discussions about jihad and the establishment of an Islamic state. The government’s crackdown on such events reflects its ongoing efforts to address the challenge of religious extremism in Qoqon, where a blend of ethnic diversity and historical instability has fostered a concern towards the growth of extremist ideologies. The Ferghana Valley remains a significant area of attention due to its vulnerability to domestic and transnational Islamist group activities.
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