Preventing violent extremism in Central Asia
Project description
Title: Prevention of violent extremism in Central Asia
Commissioned by: German Federal Foreign Office
Country: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
Lead executing agency: Attorney General’s Office
Overall term: 2022 bis 2023
Context
Violent extremism and radicalisation are on the rise in Central Asia. It is estimated that up to 4,000 Islamic State (IS) supporters have left their home countries in Central Asia to fight in Syria and Iraq. A similar number of fighters from the region are believed to have joined Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan since the 1990s.
With the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan and the Islamic State’s territorial losses in the Middle East, there is growing concern that extremists could extend their influence to Central Asia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have responded with judicial and security reforms; Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have also developed strategies against violent extremism and terrorism.
There is also a growing demand for preventive approaches such as educational measures and psychosocial services, which increase societal resilience against radicalisation tendencies. At the present time, however, the security authorities are concentrating on further training for state authorities and on religious re-education measures. Prevention has thus far been understood primarily as a matter of security policy and not as a task for society as a whole.
Objective
Countries in Central Asia are using more preventive measures to combat extremism and terrorism.
Approach
The prevention of violent extremism (PVE) is an extensive task for state actors and society as a whole. Therefore, the project uses conflict prevention and gender-sensitive methods to work together with the state and civil society in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to curb violent extremism.
As part of this, stakeholders develop appropriate preventive measures and implement corresponding national strategies. The respective approaches are adapted to the needs and conditions of the three countries. At the same time, the project promotes regional cooperation around this issue.
Last update: August 2022