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English Version), Maxim Bloom (Kyrgyzstan, Russian Version) Translators: Gulnara Abdykalykova (Russian – English) Mirgul Ismailova (Russian – Kyrgyz)

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English Version), Maxim Bloom (Kyrgyzstan, Russian Version) Translators: Gulnara Abdykalykova (Russian – English) Mirgul Ismailova (Russian – Kyrgyz) Real and perceived Islamophobia in Bishkek 1 International Alert «Constructive Dialogues on Religion and Democracy» project First Compilation of Researches Bishkek – 2019 International Alert First Compilation of Researches This compilation contains reports of four researches conducted as part of the "Constructive dialogues on religion and democracy" project funded by European Union and implemented by International Alert in the Kyrgyz Republic. The researches were conducted by young researchers went through a series of trainings in 2017 and 2018. Edited by Rasul Momunaliev – Project Manager International Alert. Editorial team: Shakirat Toktosunova – International Alert representative in the Kyrgyz Republic/Project Director Rasul Momunaliev – Project manager Susan Calnan, Viktoria Khroundina (UK, English version), Maxim Bloom (Kyrgyzstan, Russian version) Translators: Gulnara Abdykalykova (Russian – English) Mirgul Ismailova (Russian – Kyrgyz) This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of International Alert and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. © 2019. International Alert. All rights reserved. Results, analysis and conclusions indicated in the given publication belong to researches authors and do not necessarily reflect the point of view of International Alert. When using and reproducing any material presented in the report, reference to the source (International Alert) is compulsory. International Alert First Compilation of Researches 3 Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 5 Real and perceived Islamophobia in Bishkek: A quantitative and qualitative study .................................................................................................... 8 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 9 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Research goal and objectives .................................................................................... 11 2. Research methodology and report structure ................................................................ 12 2.1 Methodology and sampling ....................................................................................... 12 2.2 Report structure ........................................................................................................ 12 3. Perceptions of Islam among the general population in Bishkek ................................. 13 3.1 Survey of the general population ............................................................................... 13 3.2 Results of the KIIs and FGD conducted with the general population ................................................................................................................. 18 4. Experiences of practicing Muslims related to Islamophobia ....................................... 21 4.1 Survey of practicing Muslims ..................................................................................... 21 4.2 Results of the KIIs and FGD conducted with practicing Muslims ................................. 25 5. Experts' opinions on Islamophobia ................................................................................ 30 5.1 Definitions and origins of Islamophobia...................................................................... 30 5.2 Level of Islamophobia in Kyrgyzstan .......................................................................... 31 5.3 Causes and forms of Islamophobia ............................................................................ 31 5.4 Sources of Islamophobia ........................................................................................... 31 5.5 Positives and negatives of Islamophobia .................................................................... 32 5.6 Preventing Islamophobia ........................................................................................... 32 6. Conclusions and recommendations ............................................................................... 33 6.1 Conclusions .............................................................................................................. 33 6.2 Recommendations .................................................................................................... 34 Appendix 1: Glossary ............................................................................................................ 36 Kyrgyz national values as a factor in creating civic identity: A sociological study .................................................................................................... 38 Summary ............................................................................................................................... 39 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 40 2. Research overview .......................................................................................................... 41 2.1 Research objectives .................................................................................................. 41 2.2 Hypotheses ............................................................................................................... 41 2.3 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 41 3. Survey results .................................................................................................................. 42 3.1 Knowledge of state and official languages ................................................................. 42 3.2 Identity...................................................................................................................... 45 3.3 Values .......................................................................................................................46 3.4 Traditions, customs and holidays that form common civil unity ................................... 46 4. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................... 50 References ........................................................................................................................... 51 4 International Alert First Compilation of Researches The media's role in covering religious topics and building a constructive dialogue on religion and democracy in Kyrgyzstan.................................................................................................................. 52 Executive summary .............................................................................................................. 53 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 55 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................. 55 1.2 Research objective and question ............................................................................... 55 2. Methodology .................................................................................................................... 56 3. Content analysis of media outlets covering religious issues ...................................... 57 3.1 Content analysis of Radio Azattyk (www.azattyk.org) .................................................. 57 3.2 Content analysis of the KTRC (www.ktrk.kg) .............................................................. 60 3.3 Content-analysis of 24.kg news agency (http://www.24kg) ........................................ 62 4. The attitude of youth towards the coverage of religion in the media and its role in the interaction between religion and democracy in Kyrgyzstan ..................... 65 4.1 Demographic characteristics ..................................................................................... 65 4.2 Sources of information on religion ............................................................................. 65 4.3 Assessment of the media's coverage of religious issues ............................................ 66 4.4 Attitude towards the media's role in the interaction between religion and democracy ......................................................................................................... 66 5. Opinions of media representatives in relation to the media's coverage of religion ........................................................................................................................ 67 5.1 Media representatives ............................................................................................... 67 5.2 Preparing and publishing materials ............................................................................ 67 5.3 Media's dependence on state policy in the field of religion ........................................ 69 5.4 Ideological preferences, views and beliefs ................................................................. 70 6. Conclusions ....................................................................................................................
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