http://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news and broadcast organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries http://www.rferl.org/img/rssLogo.gif http://www.rferl.org en-US Copyright 2009 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:14:14 +0000 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL More than 10 years since Kyrgyzstan became the first Central Asian state to suspend the death penalty, arguments for reinstating the punishment are gaining traction. http://www.rferl.org/content/Pressure_Grows_In_Kyrgyzstan_For_Return_Of_Death_Penalty/1879349.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Pressure_Grows_In_Kyrgyzstan_For_Return_Of_Death_Penalty/1879349.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:11:05 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Pressure_Grows_In_Kyrgyzstan_For_Return_Of_Death_Penalty/1879349.html#relatedInfoContainer Promoting itself as a hospitable tourist stop along the ancient Silk Road, Uzbekistan is seeking to boost its tourism industry and attract more foreign travelers. But the authoritarian regime in Tashkent maintains a strict visa procedure that discourages outside visitors. http://www.rferl.org/content/Uzbekistan_Promoting_Itself_To_Tourists_But_Maintains_Exhausting_Visa_Regime/1860459.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Uzbekistan_Promoting_Itself_To_Tourists_But_Maintains_Exhausting_Visa_Regime/1860459.html Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:48:21 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Uzbekistan_Promoting_Itself_To_Tourists_But_Maintains_Exhausting_Visa_Regime/1860459.html#relatedInfoContainer Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his opponent, Abdullah Abdullah, have welcomed election officials' decision to hold a second round of presidential elections and Western leaders are expressing their optimism. But enormous logistical and security difficulties must be overcome if the second round, to be held in just two weeks' time, is to be considered a success. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Election_Runoff_Comes_With_Second_Round_Of_Obstacles/1856743.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Election_Runoff_Comes_With_Second_Round_Of_Obstacles/1856743.html Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:09:50 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Election_Runoff_Comes_With_Second_Round_Of_Obstacles/1856743.html#relatedInfoContainer Tajikistan's Interior Ministry has announced that four suspected members of the banned militant group Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) were killed and another arrested in an overnight operation in northeastern Tajikistan. The operation took place in a religiously conservative district located in the restive Ferghana Valley, the stronghold of the IMU in neighboring Uzbekistan. http://www.rferl.org/content/Four_Suspected_IMU_Members_Killed_In_Tajikistan/1855410.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Four_Suspected_IMU_Members_Killed_In_Tajikistan/1855410.html Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:49:37 +0000 News Last week, Turkmenistan denied entry for dozens of volunteers from the Peace Corps, a U.S. government-run program engaged in education and health-care projects. Earlier this month, Turkmen students studying at U.S.-affiliated universities were denied permission to leave the country after their summer holidays. Critics say authorities in Turkmenistan remain suspicious that Western education could change the mindset of Turkmen students. http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_Ashgabat_Suspicious_Of_US_Education_Programs/1850922.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_Ashgabat_Suspicious_Of_US_Education_Programs/1850922.html Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:24:57 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_Ashgabat_Suspicious_Of_US_Education_Programs/1850922.html#relatedInfoContainer Central Asia's military call-up season conjures up images of appalling living conditions, inadequate food, and endemic bullying of young conscripts. It also sparks widespread draft evasion. Now some countries in the region are trying reforms to boost compliance. http://www.rferl.org/content/Central_Asia_Developing_Armies_Of_The_Underprivileged/1843131.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Central_Asia_Developing_Armies_Of_The_Underprivileged/1843131.html Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:06:10 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Central_Asia_Developing_Armies_Of_The_Underprivileged/1843131.html#relatedInfoContainer A year ago, a police crackdown on Hizb ut-Tahrir in southern Kyrgyzstan shone a spotlight on the banned Islamist group’s few female members. Now, a new report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) indicates that Kyrgyz women – disenfranchised by their low social status and limited opportunities – are turning to the radical Islamist group in unprecedented numbers. http://www.rferl.org/content/Banned_Islamic_Group_Draws_Female_Members_In_Kyrgyzstan/1838996.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Banned_Islamic_Group_Draws_Female_Members_In_Kyrgyzstan/1838996.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:21:52 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Banned_Islamic_Group_Draws_Female_Members_In_Kyrgyzstan/1838996.html#relatedInfoContainer For the first time, Central Asia was on the agenda at the annual Economic Forum in Krynica, Poland -- the so-called "Davos of the East." Central Asia's growing importance as an energy provider prompted debate about the dilemma Europe faces as it balances its need for energy security against its desire to see democratic progress take root in the region. http://www.rferl.org/content/Europe_Central_Asia_Dilemma_Discussed_At_Polish_Forum/1819860.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Europe_Central_Asia_Dilemma_Discussed_At_Polish_Forum/1819860.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:47:00 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Europe_Central_Asia_Dilemma_Discussed_At_Polish_Forum/1819860.html#relatedInfoContainer One of Kazakhstan's most prominent human rights activists has gone on trial in a case his colleagues fear could be used for political purposes. http://www.rferl.org/content/Prominent_Kazakh_Rights_Defender_Goes_On_Trial_For_Manslaughter/1813069.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Prominent_Kazakh_Rights_Defender_Goes_On_Trial_For_Manslaughter/1813069.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:26:59 +0000 News http://www.rferl.org/content/Prominent_Kazakh_Rights_Defender_Goes_On_Trial_For_Manslaughter/1813069.html#relatedInfoContainer Tajikistan's Education Ministry has ordered the temporary closure of the country's only private university. But the educators are questioning their motives, and the university is refusing to comply. http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajikistans_Lone_Private_University_Defies_Order/1812474.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajikistans_Lone_Private_University_Defies_Order/1812474.html Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:48:57 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajikistans_Lone_Private_University_Defies_Order/1812474.html#relatedInfoContainer With schools set to open on September 1, Tajikistan becomes the first country in Central Asia to break with the tradition of secular education and add Islam to its curriculum. Some see it as part of an effort by the government to take an active role in overseeing how the nation's young are learning their religion. http://www.rferl.org/content/Islam_Becomes_Mandatory_Study_in_Secular_Tajik_Schools/1811693.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Islam_Becomes_Mandatory_Study_in_Secular_Tajik_Schools/1811693.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:00:09 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Islam_Becomes_Mandatory_Study_in_Secular_Tajik_Schools/1811693.html#relatedInfoContainer A deadly shoot-out between police officers and unidentified armed men in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, has left at least two people dead and several police officers wounded. This and unconfirmed reports of other shootings around Tashkent come after Uzbekistan closed its borders and clamped down on security ahead of national Independence Day celebrations. http://www.rferl.org/content/Fatal_ShootOut_Rocks_Uzbek_Capital_Despite_Tight_Security_Measures/1811367.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Fatal_ShootOut_Rocks_Uzbek_Capital_Despite_Tight_Security_Measures/1811367.html Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:09:15 +0000 News While out campaigning, Akmina, a woman from the deeply conservative and volatile Khost Province, wears men's clothing and carries a Kalashnikov. She is one of 323 women throughout Afghanistan defying Taliban threats and challenging tradition by running for seats on provincial councils. Elections for the councils are being held alongside the presidential poll on August 20. http://www.rferl.org/content/Carrying_A_Kalashnikov_And_Wearing_Mens_Clothes_Afghan_Woman_Hits_The_Campaign_Trail/1803417.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Carrying_A_Kalashnikov_And_Wearing_Mens_Clothes_Afghan_Woman_Hits_The_Campaign_Trail/1803417.html Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:37:09 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Carrying_A_Kalashnikov_And_Wearing_Mens_Clothes_Afghan_Woman_Hits_The_Campaign_Trail/1803417.html#relatedInfoContainer Mahmud Ahmadinejad is busily piecing together his new cabinet, promising "major changes" and the addition of fresh faces to his team for his second term in office. But below the surface, the Iranian president continues to face considerable challenges both from his reformist rivals and his fellow conservatives. http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejad_Moves_Ahead_With_Fresh_Cabinet_But_Old_Challenges_Linger/1801484.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejad_Moves_Ahead_With_Fresh_Cabinet_But_Old_Challenges_Linger/1801484.html Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:41:04 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejad_Moves_Ahead_With_Fresh_Cabinet_But_Old_Challenges_Linger/1801484.html#relatedInfoContainer Some 25 people have gone on trial in a Tehran revolutionary court over their alleged involvement in provoking the unrest that erupted after the disputed June 12 presidential election. They are the third such group to face prosecution in a mass trial since the postelection unrest. http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Begins_Another_Mass_Trial_Over_Postelection_Turmoil/1801171.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Begins_Another_Mass_Trial_Over_Postelection_Turmoil/1801171.html Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:50:36 +0000 News http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Begins_Another_Mass_Trial_Over_Postelection_Turmoil/1801171.html#relatedInfoContainer As Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadinejad prepares to present his new cabinet to parliament next week, experts say there are new signs of growing rift between the hard-line president and the conservative camp that traditionally supported him. Some conservative Iranian lawmakers have criticized Ahmadinejad for refusing to consult the parliament about his candidates and are hinting his actions could have an impact on the confidence vote. http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejads_Cabinet_Choices_Highlight_Possible_Rift_Among_Irans_Ruling_Elite/1799607.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejads_Cabinet_Choices_Highlight_Possible_Rift_Among_Irans_Ruling_Elite/1799607.html Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:54:14 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Ahmadinejads_Cabinet_Choices_Highlight_Possible_Rift_Among_Irans_Ruling_Elite/1799607.html#relatedInfoContainer Russia's recently announced plan to set up a second military base in Kyrgyzstan has evoked considerable reaction as proponents and detractors debate whether such a facility will boost or strain security efforts the region. http://www.rferl.org/content/Would_Russians_In_Ferghana_Valley_Guarantee_Stability_Or_Spell_Disaster/1798381.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Would_Russians_In_Ferghana_Valley_Guarantee_Stability_Or_Spell_Disaster/1798381.html Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:53:01 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Would_Russians_In_Ferghana_Valley_Guarantee_Stability_Or_Spell_Disaster/1798381.html#relatedInfoContainer Throughout Central Asia, people say it's a fact of life that most university entrants must pay bribes to get enrolled into institutions of higher education. And because of the corruption in the system, many say can lead to doctors, lawyers, and other professionals with little qualification for the important work they do. http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Central_Asia_Bribery_A_Common_Part_of_Education/1794065.html http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Central_Asia_Bribery_A_Common_Part_of_Education/1794065.html Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:01:28 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Central_Asia_Bribery_A_Common_Part_of_Education/1794065.html#relatedInfoContainer At least 14 cases of the swine flu virus (H1N1) have been confirmed in Kazakhstan, the only confirmed cases of the illness in Central Asia. Governments across the region are taking measures to prevent an epidemic, but many people remain unaware of the threat. http://www.rferl.org/content/First_Confirmed_Swine_Flu_Cases_Cause_Panic_in_Kazakh_Cities/1788994.html http://www.rferl.org/content/First_Confirmed_Swine_Flu_Cases_Cause_Panic_in_Kazakh_Cities/1788994.html Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:51:27 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/First_Confirmed_Swine_Flu_Cases_Cause_Panic_in_Kazakh_Cities/1788994.html#relatedInfoContainer Kyrgyz opposition leader Almazbek Atambaev has refused to accept the official results of last week's presidential vote giving incumbent Kurmanbek Bakiev the win. He called for nationwide protests before heading for a short trip to Russia to seek Kremlin backing. But few expect Atambaev to gain significant support -- either in Kyrgyzstan or Russia -- in his standoff with Bakiev. http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_RunnerUp_Rejects_Election_Results_Turns_To_Moscow/1786392.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_RunnerUp_Rejects_Election_Results_Turns_To_Moscow/1786392.html Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:11:54 +0000 News Standing side by side with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Washington on July 22, President Barack Obama said he was encouraged by developments in Iraq. But three weeks after the last U.S. troops pulled out of Iraqi cities, towns, and villages, Iraqi citizens are not all optimistic about the level of security or the prospects for improvement. http://www.rferl.org/content/Iraqis_Divided_On_Success_Of_US_Troop_Pullout/1783867.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Iraqis_Divided_On_Success_Of_US_Troop_Pullout/1783867.html Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:55:05 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Iraqis_Divided_On_Success_Of_US_Troop_Pullout/1783867.html#relatedInfoContainer An Afghan bill on eliminating violence against women is expected to be among the first pieces of legislation to be discussed when Afghan parliamentarians return from summer holidays this week. Under the bill, which has been in the works for years, anyone who bars a woman from attending school, going to work, or visiting a doctor would face prison time. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Bill_Aims_To_Criminalize_Discrimination_Against_Women/1781098.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Bill_Aims_To_Criminalize_Discrimination_Against_Women/1781098.html Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:38:50 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Bill_Aims_To_Criminalize_Discrimination_Against_Women/1781098.html#relatedInfoContainer It has been 20 years since Nursultan Nazarbaev came to power in Kazakhstan, Central Asia's largest and richest country. For some, Nazarbaev is an autocrat who has suppressed freedom and democracy, for others he is a guarantor of prosperity and stability in the country. http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakhstans_Nazarbaev_Marks_20_Years_In_Power/1759332.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakhstans_Nazarbaev_Marks_20_Years_In_Power/1759332.html Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:18:01 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Kazakhstans_Nazarbaev_Marks_20_Years_In_Power/1759332.html#relatedInfoContainer As Central Asian leaders have increasingly sounded the alarm of the security threat posed by foreign militants, a familiar name has entered the argument -- the Taliban. Is the threat of the Taliban real, or merely fear mongering? http://www.rferl.org/content/Threat_Of_Taliban_Incursion_Raised_In_Central_Asia__Again/1752944.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Threat_Of_Taliban_Incursion_Raised_In_Central_Asia__Again/1752944.html Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:32:09 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Threat_Of_Taliban_Incursion_Raised_In_Central_Asia__Again/1752944.html#relatedInfoContainer Accounting for approximately half of the population, Iran's ethnic minorities stand to have a huge impact on the country's June 12 presidential election. Well aware of this, the candidates are courting minority voters as the election campaign reaches its climax. http://www.rferl.org/content/Irans_Presidential_Candidates_Play_The_EthnicMinority_Card/1749461.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Irans_Presidential_Candidates_Play_The_EthnicMinority_Card/1749461.html Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:21:29 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Irans_Presidential_Candidates_Play_The_EthnicMinority_Card/1749461.html#relatedInfoContainer The sharp tone of the debate reflected widespread perceptions -- in a country with little access to reliable polling figures -- that it featured the two presidential front-runners in a four-man race ahead of the June 12 election. http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_President_Reformist_Rival_Trade_Barbs_In_Televised_Debate/1746994.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_President_Reformist_Rival_Trade_Barbs_In_Televised_Debate/1746994.html Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:22:18 +0000 News Central Asians are used to seeing pictures of their presidents everywhere -- from bus stops and trolleybus windshields to roadside billboards and office walls. Kazakhstan is currently erecting an extravagant monument to President Nursultan Nazarbaev, while Tajik officials routinely refer to their leader, Emomali Rahmon, as "His Excellency." Has the presidential personality cult become an integral part of political culture in Central Asia? http://www.rferl.org/content/Central_Asias_Rulers_Follow_Familiar_Recipe_For_Longevity/1761482.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Central_Asias_Rulers_Follow_Familiar_Recipe_For_Longevity/1761482.html Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:28:10 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Central_Asias_Rulers_Follow_Familiar_Recipe_For_Longevity/1761482.html#relatedInfoContainer Islamists are claiming responsibility for fresh attacks in Uzbekistan and Tashkent is pointing fingers across the border at Kyrgyzstan, while outside observers say it's too early to place blame. But they're quick to note that instability could spread quickly in the Ferghana Valley, which spans several borders and is generally seen as a hotbed of social unrest in Central Asia. http://www.rferl.org/content/Uzbek_Attacks_Trip_Alarm_In_Ferghana/1740949.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Uzbek_Attacks_Trip_Alarm_In_Ferghana/1740949.html Wed, 27 May 2009 14:42:17 +0000 News Less than a year after Uzbekistan officially banned child labor from its billion-dollar cotton industry, activists say kids are not only back out in the fields -- they're being forced by their teachers to grow it at home. Critics are troubled that the region's most populous adult workforce can't sustain the world's second-leading cotton exporter. http://www.rferl.org/content/Seeds_Of_Child_Labor_Lie_Deep_In_Uzbek_Cotton_Industry/1738167.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Seeds_Of_Child_Labor_Lie_Deep_In_Uzbek_Cotton_Industry/1738167.html Sat, 23 May 2009 16:06:33 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Seeds_Of_Child_Labor_Lie_Deep_In_Uzbek_Cotton_Industry/1738167.html#relatedInfoContainer A tell-all book published by the former son-in-law of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev is the latest volley in a long-distance family feud. Rakhat Aliev reveals what he says are intimate details of Nazarbaev's public and private life and plenty of secrets. The state is not amused. http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_Kazakh_Presidential_SoninLaw_Publishes_TellAll_Book/1737423.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_Kazakh_Presidential_SoninLaw_Publishes_TellAll_Book/1737423.html Fri, 22 May 2009 12:03:14 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Former_Kazakh_Presidential_SoninLaw_Publishes_TellAll_Book/1737423.html#relatedInfoContainer Reports of the scale of a purported antidrug operation, the inclusion of special-forces troops, and especially its location have fueled speculation that it may be a veiled government effort to combat the activities of warlords in the mountainous Rasht Valley. The region is not generally known for drug production or as a major trafficking route, but was the stronghold of the armed Islamic opposition in last decade's civil war. http://www.rferl.org/content/Clampdown_In_Tajik_East_Kindles_Lasting_Fears/1736770.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Clampdown_In_Tajik_East_Kindles_Lasting_Fears/1736770.html Thu, 21 May 2009 15:38:20 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Clampdown_In_Tajik_East_Kindles_Lasting_Fears/1736770.html#relatedInfoContainer Alleged followers of the Jamaat-ut Tabligh Sunni missionary group have come under increasing pressure in Tajikistan. Followers and some outsiders question whether they're not simply being painted with too broad a brush, and dismiss accusations that they aim to overthrow the country's secular system to create an Islamic caliphate. http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajiks_Target_Obscure_Islamic_Group_For_Prosecution/1731761.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajiks_Target_Obscure_Islamic_Group_For_Prosecution/1731761.html Thu, 14 May 2009 13:44:19 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajiks_Target_Obscure_Islamic_Group_For_Prosecution/1731761.html#relatedInfoContainer Since the authorities opened the way for private investment into Afghanistan's education system nearly two years ago, more than 300 private schools have opened from Kabul to remote provinces. Parents' welcoming of private schools is seen by many Afghans as a further sign of growing stability and optimism for a better future. http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Private_Schools_Seen_As_Sign_Of_Hope_Optimism/1624801.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Private_Schools_Seen_As_Sign_Of_Hope_Optimism/1624801.html Sat, 09 May 2009 13:03:48 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghan_Private_Schools_Seen_As_Sign_Of_Hope_Optimism/1624801.html#relatedInfoContainer Kazakh officials say Mukhtar Aliev, the father of embattled presidential in-law and former envoy Rakhat Aliev, appealed to the embassy in Vienna this week to help him return home. The official line is that he claimed his son was mistreating him and would not allow him to return to Kazakhstan. But Rakhat Aliev -- his marriage to the president's daughter over, his career tainted by a 40-year prison sentence for corruption, and living in self-exile in Austria -- accuses the Kazakh authorities of ... http://www.rferl.org/content/Embassy_Visit_Adds_New_Chapter_To_Kazakh_Presidential_Family_Saga/1623659.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Embassy_Visit_Adds_New_Chapter_To_Kazakh_Presidential_Family_Saga/1623659.html Thu, 07 May 2009 15:20:53 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Embassy_Visit_Adds_New_Chapter_To_Kazakh_Presidential_Family_Saga/1623659.html#relatedInfoContainer Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov recently sacked two top media executives, sparking hopes his government might ease longstanding media restrictions. He's also overseen the opening of Internet cafes and the reopening of journalism schools. Are the moves harbingers of real change in the famously isolated country or just window dressing? http://www.rferl.org/content/Turkmen_Sackings_Hint_At_Possible_Relaxation_Of_Media_Restrictions/1620581.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Turkmen_Sackings_Hint_At_Possible_Relaxation_Of_Media_Restrictions/1620581.html Sun, 03 May 2009 12:07:22 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Turkmen_Sackings_Hint_At_Possible_Relaxation_Of_Media_Restrictions/1620581.html#relatedInfoContainer So-called Turkish schools have come under scrutiny in Central Asia. The governments of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan fear that the educational institutions promote pan-Turkic and religious ideas that could jeopardize Central Asia's secular order. Do Turkish schools in the region have more than education on their agendas? http://www.rferl.org/content/Turkish_Schools_Coming_Under_Increasing_Scrutiny_In_Central_Asia/1616111.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Turkish_Schools_Coming_Under_Increasing_Scrutiny_In_Central_Asia/1616111.html Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:50:25 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Turkish_Schools_Coming_Under_Increasing_Scrutiny_In_Central_Asia/1616111.html#relatedInfoContainer An audit of Tajikistan's National Bank has revealed shortcomings exceeding $1 billion, leading to accusations that the deputy prime minister who once headed the bank mishandled bank funds and funneled huge sums to private business interests. The findings could jeopardize Tajikistan's ability to secure foreign investments at a crucial time. http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Audit_Reveals_Huge_National_Bank_Shortfalls/1609233.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Audit_Reveals_Huge_National_Bank_Shortfalls/1609233.html Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:20:52 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Audit_Reveals_Huge_National_Bank_Shortfalls/1609233.html#relatedInfoContainer More than 400 publications and dozens of television and radio stations have been established in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. But the initial euphoria that accompanied the effort to establish free media in the country has been replaced by stagnation. The threat of violence or other repercussions lead many journalists to avoid covering issues that could put them in harm's way. http://www.rferl.org/content/Media_Freedom_In_Afghanistan_Curtailed_By_Violence_Cultural_Pressures/1606900.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Media_Freedom_In_Afghanistan_Curtailed_By_Violence_Cultural_Pressures/1606900.html Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:47:03 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Media_Freedom_In_Afghanistan_Curtailed_By_Violence_Cultural_Pressures/1606900.html#relatedInfoContainer The impoverished Central Asian country of Tajikistan is host to millions of tons of Soviet-era toxic waste. Now Tajik specialists say the radioactive waste in two of the sites has begun to leak during heavy rains and flooding -- and threatens to contaminate soil, crops, and water supplies. http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajikistans_Former_Soviet_Nuclear_Sites_Pose_Threat_To_Nearby_Villages/1604737.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajikistans_Former_Soviet_Nuclear_Sites_Pose_Threat_To_Nearby_Villages/1604737.html Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:28:40 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajikistans_Former_Soviet_Nuclear_Sites_Pose_Threat_To_Nearby_Villages/1604737.html#relatedInfoContainer The small Jewish community in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, has a special reason to celebrate during the spring holiday of Passover, which begins on April 8. After nearly a year without a place of worship, the congregation has received a new building to use as a synagogue. http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Time_For_Passover_Tajik_Jewish_Community_Gets_New_Synagogue/1603812.html http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Time_For_Passover_Tajik_Jewish_Community_Gets_New_Synagogue/1603812.html Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:45:36 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Time_For_Passover_Tajik_Jewish_Community_Gets_New_Synagogue/1603812.html#relatedInfoContainer Afghanistan's Supreme Court has ruled that President Hamid Karzai, whose term officially ends in late May, should remain in office until a new leader is elected in August presidential polls -- a decision that has provoked an outcry from Karzai's opponents. http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzais_Opponents_Slam_Supreme_Court_Ruling_As_Unconstitutional_/1564465.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzais_Opponents_Slam_Supreme_Court_Ruling_As_Unconstitutional_/1564465.html Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:09:58 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Karzais_Opponents_Slam_Supreme_Court_Ruling_As_Unconstitutional_/1564465.html#relatedInfoContainer An Iranian blogger sent to Tehran's infamous Evin prison last month for allegedly insulting Iran's religious leaders and agitating against the government has died under questionable circumstances. http://www.rferl.org/content/Suspicion_Cast_On_Iranian_Bloggers_Death/1513351.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Suspicion_Cast_On_Iranian_Bloggers_Death/1513351.html Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:27:41 +0000 Features With the withdrawal of Mohammad Khatami from Iran's presidential race, all eyes now turn to Mir Hossein Musavi. While he enjoys Khatami's support, the former prime minister is said to lack his charisma and standing in society. http://www.rferl.org/content/Khatami_Pulls_Out_of_Presidential_Race_Backs_Another_Reformist_Candidate/1511548.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Khatami_Pulls_Out_of_Presidential_Race_Backs_Another_Reformist_Candidate/1511548.html Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:24:27 +0000 News http://www.rferl.org/content/Khatami_Pulls_Out_of_Presidential_Race_Backs_Another_Reformist_Candidate/1511548.html#relatedInfoContainer As officials await the results of an investigation into a fiery car crash outside Bishkek that claimed the life of a man once considered the "gray cardinal" of Kyrgyz politics, the opposition has wasted little time in accusing the government of assassinating Medet Sadyrkulov to send them a message. http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Opposition_Figures_Death_Leaves_Cloud_Of_Intrigue_/1511142.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Opposition_Figures_Death_Leaves_Cloud_Of_Intrigue_/1511142.html Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:52:20 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Opposition_Figures_Death_Leaves_Cloud_Of_Intrigue_/1511142.html#relatedInfoContainer From teenagers to young professionals, some 2,000 people have signed up in Kabul to take part in a modeling contest -- the first of its kind in Afghanistan’s deeply conservative society. http://www.rferl.org/content/From_Burqa_to_Catwalk__Afghan_Models_Strut_Their_Stuff/1510395.html http://www.rferl.org/content/From_Burqa_to_Catwalk__Afghan_Models_Strut_Their_Stuff/1510395.html Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:24:30 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/From_Burqa_to_Catwalk__Afghan_Models_Strut_Their_Stuff/1510395.html#relatedInfoContainer Are Indian and Central Asian music, dance, and soap operas immoral and un-Islamic? That's the accusation Afghan prosecutors have leveled against a new private Kabul TV station. How far is each side willing to go to press its point? http://www.rferl.org/content/Kabul_TV_Station_Faces_Officials_Wrath/1508347.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Kabul_TV_Station_Faces_Officials_Wrath/1508347.html Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:02:34 +0000 Features As the world marks International Women's Day, Afghanistan is among the countries that can celebrate recent gains for women's rights, with many women returning to work and school since the fall of the Taliban. But continuing instability and the persistence of conservative values mean that those successes remain under threat. http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Afghanistan_Traditional_Values_Still_Threaten_Womens_Rights_/1506146.html http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Afghanistan_Traditional_Values_Still_Threaten_Womens_Rights_/1506146.html Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:58:24 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Afghanistan_Traditional_Values_Still_Threaten_Womens_Rights_/1506146.html#relatedInfoContainer For centuries, Sufism has been known in Afghanistan as a mystical, philosophical, and spiritual form of Islam. Now, some suggest that Sufi leaders, who claim to have great influence on Afghan society, could play a significant role in bringing peace and stability to the country. But would the Taliban listen to Sufis' message of peace? http://www.rferl.org/content/Can_Sufis_Bring_Peace_to_Afghanistan/1503303.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Can_Sufis_Bring_Peace_to_Afghanistan/1503303.html Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:18:28 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Can_Sufis_Bring_Peace_to_Afghanistan/1503303.html#relatedInfoContainer When Emomali Rahmon visited Moscow a few weeks ago, he left amid confusion and anger over the state of Tajikistan's relations with Russia. Now, he returns to the Russian capital following a brief European tour to boost ties with the EU and NATO, and amid talk of moving closer to Iran. The Tajik president could find himself in a stronger bargaining position with Russia as a result. http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Leader_Arrives_In_Moscow_With_More_Leverage_Less_Faith/1498425.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Leader_Arrives_In_Moscow_With_More_Leverage_Less_Faith/1498425.html Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:31:33 +0000 Features http://www.rferl.org/content/Tajik_Leader_Arrives_In_Moscow_With_More_Leverage_Less_Faith/1498425.html#relatedInfoContainer As the global economic crisis leads to thousands of layoffs across Europe, Czech officials are offering free air tickets and 500 euros in cash to jobless migrants to allow them to return home. Some Asian laborers are using the opportunity to return to their native countries, but many Ukrainian workers say they prefer to stay put. http://www.rferl.org/content/Ukrainian_Workers_Unconvinced_By_Czech_Repatriation_Offer/1496121.html http://www.rferl.org/content/Ukrainian_Workers_Unconvinced_By_Czech_Repatriation_Offer/1496121.html Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:40:50 +0000 Features