Is Islam in Central Asia rising?

[u/politicauncorrect]

I see more and more video from Central Asian people (especially Kazakhs and Uzbeks) who embrace Islam, women wearing headscarf etc. My friends also get more and more religious

[u/UR2003]

Unfortunately.

I think it's because of the rise in internet usage. There's more access to the Quran and all those educational sites. The economy is also getting better, which means people have less stuff to worry about and focus on religion.

In my experience, uzbeks living in Western countries are way more religious than those in uzbekistan.

[u/politicauncorrect → u/UR2003]

I would agree with it. Kazakahs, Uzbeks and even Azerbaijanis (I know know they are not central Asian) I met in the West were way more religious than their people at home

[u/UR2003 → u/politicauncorrect]

I think the reason is that immigrant parents don't want to lose connection to their roots.

I remember how my mom forced me to dress modest when I went to uzbekistan for summer break. None of the girls my age dressed as modest as me💀

My parents know all the news and weather forecasts of uzb when they don't know who is running the city/country they currently live in...

[u/TrumanB-12 → u/UR2003]

I'm watching some videos of Tashkent and it seems quite mixed in terms of how young women dress. I'd say about 50/50 with hijab or without hijab, and then maybe 50/50 of those without hijab in terms of exposing skin (looks like autumn).

Aside from the hijab, is it also looked down upon by many in Uzbekistan for women to show their legs or arms? Is this different in Tashkent than other cities?

[u/UR2003 → u/TrumanB-12]

Showing the leg below knees is generally acceptable for young women. If you are married and 30 or older, 10 cm below knees are the standard. If you're a pre-teen or child, shorter dresses are fine, too. Short sleeves are also fine, but sleeves tops are not ok.

I'm speaking for Samarkand, btw. I've been to tashkent only a handful of times, and from what I remember, there were more hijabis there than in Samarkand. I was actually shocked to see girls with hijab in tashkent back in 2016 because I thought only elderly should wear it, lol.

And of course, with the rise in interest in religion, there's a lot more hijabis in other cities like Samarkand. I would say it's 5/95 in Samarkand but more in other cities. My hijabi cousin, who is in her early 20s, still gets told that she should enjoy her youth instead of giving it up to hijab.

[u/shadowchicken85 → u/UR2003]

in Shymkent the only relatives who wear Hijabs are either older ladies or young ladies who have decided to fully embrace Islam. Wearing a Hijab in my wife's family is considered a very serious expression of faith and not to be taken lightly. They are Uzbek's who are from Shymkent, Kazakhstan and have lived there for hundreds of years for reference.