A series of killings has gripped the northern part of Tajikistan, specifically in the Fergana Valley, a region known for its fertile lands and ethnically diverse population. This area, shared with neighboring Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, has long been a hotspot for border tensions and periodic concerns over religious extremism.
Over the past few months, police investigators and journalists have been working to gather accounts from frightened residents of Konibodom, a town in the Fergana Valley. Many residents have reported sightings of a man or men dressed in black attempting to break into homes at night.
So far, 13 murders have been reported in and around Konibodom since late March, with no indications that these killings are tied to broader social or political issues in Tajikistan, one of Central Asia’s poorest nations.
Despite the current lack of direct connections to larger social or political unrest, the killings draw attention to the troubled history of this isolated region. Northern Tajikistan, separated from the rest of the country by mountains and the narrow shape of the territory wedged between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, has a past marked by volatility.
The largest part of the Fergana Valley lies to the east in Uzbekistan. Tajikistan's portion was allocated a century ago during the Soviet Union's territorial divisions. Historically, people moved freely within the valley, but the borders became increasingly rigid, especially following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. Recent years have seen numerous border clashes between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in the Ferghana Valley, although the two nations are currently engaged in negotiations.
Tajikistan’s segment of the Fergana Valley is situated in the Sughd region, with Khujand as its main city. Khujand, a stop on the ancient Silk Road and a city once conquered by Alexander the Great, serves as a transit point. Konibodom, an agricultural hub known for its almonds, cotton, and other products, has also been noted for an increase in the recruitment of young people into extremist groups.
“Terrorist and extremist crimes have risen by 17.5% in the Sughd region, with a significant number of such incidents, including the involvement of young people in extremist movements, being registered in Konibodom and Isfara compared to other regions,” stated Tajik Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon after a visit to Konibodom in April 2023.
Longstanding concerns about Tajikistan's vulnerability to terrorist recruiters were underscored by the alleged involvement of several Tajik citizens in a deadly attack on a Moscow venue on March 22, which resulted in approximately 145 fatalities. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for this attack.
Additionally, recent reports from U.S. media have disclosed the arrests of eight Tajik nationals with possible terror links in New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
The Tajik government has largely downplayed questions about whether its stringent internal policies, particularly those restricting expressions of Islamic piety, might be contributing to radicalization. In 2021, President Emomali Rahmon visited Konibodom to mark the 21st anniversary of the agreement that ended Tajikistan’s civil war following the Soviet disintegration.
“More than 150,000 people were killed in that war that lasted for five years and more than one million people became refugees. Dozens of thousands of residential buildings and many hospitals, schools, and other social facilities were destroyed,” Rahmon denounced political Islam and reminded the public of the conflict's heavy toll during his visit.
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