Secularization Policy and the Transformation of Islam in Southern Kazakhstan (1920s–1980s)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of state policy toward Islam in Southern Kazakhstan in the 1920s–1980s, as well as to the analysis of the characteristics of the functioning of religious practices under conditions of Soviet secularization. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to clarify the regional specificity of the interaction between the state and religion in the Soviet period, as well as to identify the factors that determined the resilience of the Islamic tradition under conditions of institutional constraints. The paper examines the evolution of the regulatory and legal framework governing the religious sphere, including the Decree “On the Separation of Church from the State and School from Church,” legislation on religious associations, as well as the provisions of the Constitutions of the USSR of 1936 and 1977. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the mechanisms for implementing state policy at the regional level and their impact on the religious life of the population. On the basis of archival materials, the study identifies the features of the functioning of Islamic practices under conditions of restricted public religious activity. It is shown that state policy was aimed at dismantling the institutional structure of Islam, including the closure of religious institutions, the restriction of religious education, and control over the activities of the clergy. At the same time, it is established that these measures were accompanied by the preservation of religious practices in unofficial forms. An analysis of archival documents indicates the widespread prevalence of life-cycle rituals, including marriage and funeral rites, as well as rituals associated with the tradition of sundet, which were performed outside official religious institutions. The existence of informal religious networks and practices that ensured the reproduction of religious tradition at the level of local communities has been identified. A comparative analysis of the cities of Southern Kazakhstan (Turkestan, Sairam, Shymkent, Arys) demonstrates differences in the nature of religious life, determined by historical and cultural characteristics and the degree of urbanization. It has been established that in cities with a developed religious tradition, a higher degree of preservation of religious practices was observed, whereas in industrial centers they predominantly assumed concealed forms. The scientific novelty of the study lies in identifying the regional differentiation of secularization processes and in specifying the mechanisms for the reproduction of Islamic practices at the level of local communities. The study clarifies the role of the family and everyday sphere, as well as informal religious networks, as key factors in the preservation of religious tradition, and also demonstrates the significance of the historical and cultural context in ensuring the resilience of religious life under conditions of institutional constraints. The results obtained make it possible to refine the understanding of the functioning of religion in Soviet society at the regional level and to identify forms of adaptation of religious life under conditions of restrictions.