Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s State Security Service (SGB) has warned citizens about the spread of radical ideas among women under the guise of religious education and their recruitment into extremist and terrorist organizations abroad.
According to the SGB, one such person is Merojikhon Abobokirova, born in 1986 and a native of Pakhtaabad district in the Andijan region, who uses the pseudonym “Ummu Muhammad” on Telegram.
A criminal case has been opened against her under Article 244 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, which provides for liability for creating, leading or participating in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist and other prohibited organizations. Abobokirova has been placed on the wanted list.
The SGB said Abobokirova is married to Sarvarbek Abobokirov Usmonzhonovich, born in 1979 and also a native of Pakhtaabad district. According to the agency, he underwent combat training in the ranks of terrorists in Syria and is currently wanted.
According to the SGB’s version of events, under his influence, Merojikhon Abobokirova began supporting extremist ideas. She subsequently created Telegram channels and closed groups, including “Okhirat hovlisi,” “Tolib ilm bezagi” and other resources, where she conducted online religious classes for women in Uzbek.
The agency claims that ideas of fanaticism and extremism were disseminated under the guise of religious education, while women were encouraged to undertake “hijra” and recruited into terrorist organizations operating in Syria and Afghanistan.
According to the agency, women who came under the influence of “Ummu Muhammad” traveled abroad and joined terrorists. It also reported cases in which women under her influence declared their husbands unbelievers and divorced them, leaving children without one of their parents.
The SGB also noted that the Telegram channels mentioned above have been included by the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan in the list of sources and content in international internet networks containing ideas of religious extremism, terrorism and fanaticism.
The agency warned that under Uzbek law, individuals who subscribe to such online resources or use, store or distribute materials posted there may face criminal liability.
Citizens were urged to remain vigilant, with the SGB reminding them that ignorance of the law does not exempt them from liability. Participation in extremist and terrorist organizations operating abroad may result in legal consequences.
The SGB asked citizens with information about the whereabouts of Merojikhon Abobokirova and Sarvarbek Abobokirov to report it to the State Security Service hotline at 1520 or the Ministry of Internal Affairs hotline at 1102.
