Riding two horses: Central Asia’s struggle to control faith and morality

Governments try to suppress grassroots Islam while promoting state-approved “traditional values.” But in trying to ride both horses, they reveal the limits of their control.

Central Asia’s elites embrace religion as a symbol of identity and authority, but remain deeply wary of its spontaneous, grassroots expressions.

Last year, the authorities in Tajikistan banned idgardak, a cheerful end-of-Ramadan tradition where children wander door-to-door collecting sweets from neighbours.

Officials cited safety concerns and a lack of re…