Anvar-qori Tursunov ( uz, Анвар қори Турсунов; russian: Анвар-кори Турсунов) was a prominent
imam
Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, ser ...
-
khatib at the Kukeldash mosque in
Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He was stabbed several times on 31 July 2009, but recovered.
Activities
Tursunov fought actively against "extremist" Islamic activity in Uzbekistan, and often served as a witness for the prosecution in trials for suspected members of outlawed Islamic groups such as
Hizb-ut-Tahrir
Hizb ut-Tahrir (Arabicحزب التحرير (Translation: Party of Liberation) is an international, political organization which describes its ideology as Islam, and its aim the re-establishment of the Islamic Khilafah (Caliphate) to resume Isl ...
and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
He had called for Uzbek Muslims to resist "foreign influences", such as wearing the
hijab
In modern usage, hijab ( ar, حجاب, translit=ḥijāb, ) generally refers to headcoverings worn by Muslim women. Many Muslims believe it is obligatory for every female Muslim who has reached the age of puberty to wear a head covering. While ...
. He espoused many of his views on his television program ''Hidoyat Sari'' (''Towards Guidance'').
He has been mentioned as a possible successor to the post of Chief Mufti of Uzbekistan, the head of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan.
Stabbing
At 10:30pm on 31 July 2009, Tursunov was at his home in the Yangi-Abad district when there was a knock on his door. His son answered the door, and was told his father was being invited to a religious function. When Tursunov came to the door, he was stabbed eight times by three men - five times in the arm, and three times in the stomach.
The attackers then fled the scene.
[
The government of Uzbekistan claims one of the attackers is Shavkat Makhmudov, a supposed member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan who was reportedly killed during a shoot-out in Tashkent on 29 August 2009.]
See also
* Islam in Uzbekistan
Islam is the dominant religion in Uzbekistan. Islamic customs were broadly adopted by the ruling elite, and they began patronage of scholars and conquerors such as Muhammad al-Bukhari, Al-Tirmidhi, Ismail Samani, al-Biruni, Avicenna, Tamerlane, U ...
References
Uzbekistani Muslims
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
Uzbekistani victims of crime
Uzbekistani religious leaders
Stabbing survivors
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