In 2014, Chatham House released a report titled The Myth of Post-Soviet Muslim Radicalisation in the Central Asian Republics. At that time, a significant, Western-funded counter-radicalisation industry was addressing what was believed to be a major issue of Islamic violent extremism in the region.

Over the past decade, two key developments have occurred. First, Western interest in the region has declined in favour of traditional geopolitical concerns. Second, while violent extremism incidents within Central Asia remain rare, there has been a notable recruitment of Central Asians by foreign groups, with several attacks carried out by Central Asians overseas.

In this event, the original report’s authors, John Heathershaw and David Montgomery, will discuss whether the report’s arguments are still valid and how we might answer these questions today.

This raises several questions:

• What did the report accurately predict, and where did it fall short?

• How can we explain the lack of violent extremist organisations (VEOs) within Central Asia but the presence of Central Asians in VEOs abroad?

• Could repression by Central Asian states both domestically and transnationally have contributed to this issue?

• What, if anything, can the counter-radicalisation industry do today to address this problem more effectively?

Please note that in-person places are limited. Please wait for confirmation before participating. 

With Annette Bohr, John Heathershaw, David Montgomery, and Cholpon Orozobekova.

https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/research-event/islamic-radicalisation-central-asia

While no clear evidence has yet been presented for who did it and why, it is clear that the attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow will have serious repercussions for Central Asian migrants in Russia and for Russia-Central Asia relations.

The suspected ISIS-K connection, which fits a pattern of recent attacks and arrests, brings attention back to the problem of armed Islamist groups and insurgencies from Central Asian and the Caucasus and Russia's role as one of their primary targets. The arrest of four Tajik men and their arraignment that did not acknowledge visible evidence of torture triggered a wave of harassment and renewed media commentary on Central Asia and its peoples as a source of danger.

Join us for an online roundtable, in collaboration with the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) in the Hague, which will discuss the regional, political and security implications of the attack, to get an expert view on the questions it raises, including:

Will the migration regime change as a result?

Will Central Asian migrants in Europe and elsewhere face additional pressure and scrutiny?

Could the pressure of being trapped between discrimination and mobilisation to Russia's war in Ukraine lead even more Central Asians to attempt to claim asylum or cross illegally at the US southern border?

How should the US respond?

Will we see more joint efforts to deal with the ISIS-K?

Will the terror attack be used for political purposes by Russia in its war against Ukraine, or Tajik authorities in their campaign against the Islamic Renaissance Party?

Will the attack and recent arrests of Tajik citizens abroad increase the willingness of European states to cooperate with trans-national repressions?

Guest speakers at the event will be Kacper Rekawek, ICCT; Malika Bahovadinova, University of Amsterdam; Sirojiddin Tolibov, Eitor for the RFE/RL Tajik service; Edward Lemon, Founder of the Oxus Society; Noah Tucker, Senior Researcher with Oxus and Senior Research Consultant with the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV).

Email irevents@st-andrews.ac.uk to register

Lecture, Charles University (Prague).