Anvar-qori Tursunov (Uzbek: Анвар қори Турсунов; Russian: Анвар-кори Турсунов) was a prominent imam-khatib at the Kukeldash mosque in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He was stabbed several times on 31 July 2009, but recovered.

Activities

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Tursunov fought actively against "extremist" Islamic activity in Uzbekistan, and often served as a witness for the prosecution in trials for suspected members of outlawed Islamic groups such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.[1]

He had called for Uzbek Muslims to resist "foreign influences", such as wearing the hijab.[2] He espoused many of his views on his television program Hidoyat Sari (Towards Guidance).[3] He has been mentioned as a possible successor to the post of Chief Mufti of Uzbekistan, the head of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan.[4]

Stabbing

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At 10:30pm on 31 July 2009, Tursunov was at his home in the Yangi-Abad district when there was a knock on his door. His son answered the door, and was told his father was being invited to a religious function. When Tursunov came to the door, he was stabbed eight times by three men - five times in the arm, and three times in the stomach.[5] The attackers then fled the scene.[1][4]

The government of Uzbekistan claims one of the attackers is Shavkat Makhmudov, a supposed member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan who was reportedly killed during a shoot-out in Tashkent on 29 August 2009.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Pannier, Bruce (4 August 2009). "Motives Behind Attack On Uzbek Imam Remain Unclear". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  2. ^ "Uzbek Cleric Warns Against Hijab, 'Foreign Influences'". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 30 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Uzbek TV's religious broadcast warns youth of "slanders" on the Internet". BBC Monitoring Central Asia Unit. 5 June 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Uzbekistan: Murdered Official Linked to Interior Ministry's Religious Squad". EurasiaNet. 14 August 2009.
  5. ^ Узбекистан: Главный имам-хатиб Ташкента Анвар-кори Турсунов вышел из комы (in Russian). Ferghana.ru. 7 August 2009.
  6. ^ Tynan, Deirdre (9 September 2009). "Authorities Link Tashkent Shootout in August to Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan". EurasiaNet.