Pannier, Bruce. "State Islam, Outsiders Compete for Influence in Central Asia." Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Features Section, April 5, 2010, http://www.rferl.org/content/State_Islam_Outsiders_Compete_For_Influence_In_Central_Asia/2003138.html.

While this article is mostly about contemporary state control of Islam, it does contain the following quote which might reflect on a popular/mixed version of Islamic law in the region:

The preferred alternative preached by Jumanov and other state clerics is the region's traditional Hanafi School of Islamic Law -- considered by some to be the most liberal of the four schools of Sunni Islam (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) -- mixed with Naqshbandi Sufism, a mystic order whose founder, Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari, came from Central Asia.

Sections: Competing Sects, Clerics Under Pressure, Separation of Mosque and State, Body and Soul, 'Connections to Terrorism'.  Descriptors: 2010s, e-news, interview, journalism, P, post-Soviet, state control

Djavadi, Abbas. "Fundamentalist Calls To Ignore Norouz Go Unheard In Iran, Afghanistan." Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, March 21, 2010, Commentary Section, http://www.rferl.org/content/Fundamentalist_Calls_To_Ignore_Norouz_Go_Unheard_In_Iran_Afghanistan/1989760.html. 

Djavadi reports that clerics in Iran and Afghanistan ruled that Navruz is un-Islamic and that it should not be celebrated.  Others believe that it is a Muslim holiday.  See Navruz.  As one commentator to the piece points out, why should people not be able to celebrate non-Islamic holidays.  Maybe the tension is that since many people in the region believe it to be a Muslim holiday (see Canfield (1993)), the clerics do not believe it can be celebrated as a secular holiday.  

Descriptors: 2010s, Afghanistan, D, e-news, holidays, interview, journalism, Navruz, post-Soviet; pluralism-textual/popular

Djumataeva, Venera. "In Kyrgyzstan Polygamy's Rise Takes its Toll." Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, March 8, 2010, Features section, http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Kyrgyzstan_Polygamys_Rise_Takes_Its_Toll_On_Women/1977852.html.

Djumataeva describes the experience of two women in Kyrgyzstan whose husband has two wives, the second of which he married through a religious Islamic ceremony that is not recognized by the state.  The first woman is older and her husband married a younger wife without her consent.  The second is the younger second wife of her husband.  Both women are not happy with their situation.  The article discusses the tension between state law and Islamic law with regard to polygamy and the negative effects of polygamy on women.

Sections: Signs of Improvement; Fears Punishment.  Descriptors: 2010s, Bishkek, D, e-news, Islamic law, journalism, Kyrgyzstan, marriage, women

Lawton, John. "Muslims in China: The Country." Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985, http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198504/muslims.in.china-an.introduction.htm.

Lawton briefly describes the geography and lifestyle of some contemporary Muslims in China.  He mostly follows the Silk Road from Xi'an to Turpan.  Descriptors: 1980s, bibliographic, China, journalism, L, magazine, post-Soviet; geography

Lawton, John. "Muslims in China: An Introduction." Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985, http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198504/muslims.in.china-an.introduction.htm.

With a very brief historical introduction, Lawton discusses the relationship between contemporary Muslims in China and the Chinese government.  He portrays a modest Islamic revival in the country.  As these relations have changed since the 1980s, especially in western China, this article is out of date.  Descriptors: 1980s, China, e-article, interview, journalism, L, magazine, overview, post-Soviet.

Sarwar, Sultan. "Central Asia: Madrasahs Lead Religious Teaching Revival (Part 4)" Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, August 9, 2005, By Country / Afghanistan section, http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1060537.html.

Sarwar appears to be discussing madrasas in post-Soviet Central Asia from an Afghanistan perspective.  Only interview quotations from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan are represented.  Those from Uzbekistan only discuss the historical legacy of madrasas in the region.  While the article discusses state control of madrasas in Uzbekistan, it lacks a good perspective of the current situation of madrasas throughout contemporary Central Asia (cf. Najibullah).  Here are links to the other parts in this series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.  Descriptors: 2000s, Afghanistan, e-news, journalism, madrasa, post-Soviet, revival, S, Uzbekistan

Rakhimov, Allamurad. "Central Asia: Regional Leaders Try to Control Islam (Part 2)." Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, August 5, 2005, By Country / Kazakhstan section, http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1060449.html.

 
As the title implies, state control of Islam in post-Soviet Central Asia is the topic of this article.  It mostly covers Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, but does give a brief paragraph to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan.  As President Niyazov has died, the article is out of date.  Further, it is not comprehensive and only discusses some of the issues. Here are links to the other parts of this series: Part 1, Part 3, Part 4.  Descriptors: 2000s, e-news, journalism, post-Soviet, R, state control.

Lawton, John. "Central and South Asia." In Islam's Path East. Saudi Aramco World, November/December 1991, http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199106/central.and.south.asia.htm.

This article is mostly historical tracing the golden age of Islam and the Silk Road.  It does have a few paragraphs on Central Asia, mostly discussing its historical conquerors.

Saudi Aramco World. "Muslims in China: A Special Issue." Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985, http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198504/.

This is a special issue on Islam in China.  Here are some great images related to this issue.  Sections: An Introduction; The Country; The History; The Mosques; The People.  Descriptors: 1980s, China, journalism, magazine, S.

Saidazimova, Gulnoza. "Central Asia: Region Returns To Muslim Roots (Part 1)." Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, August 4, 2005, http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1060413.html.

This is a basic overview of Islam in Central Asia, which mentions, among other things, the five pillars of Islam, the four classical Sunni madhabs (guilds of jurisprudence), and the contemporary authoritarian state control of religion.  Here are links to the next three parts: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Comments: 2/3/10
It is interesting that Privratsky (2001) discusses how phrases similar to the following quote from this article have become the profession of faith (shahada) for Kazakh Muslims in Turkistan, Kazakhstan: "I have no special knowledge of Islam, but Al-hamdulillah, I am a Muslim," said one man in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe.

Descriptors: 2000s, e-news, interview, journalism, overview, post-Soviet, revival, S.

Najibullah, Farangis. "'SMS Divorces' Cut Tajik Migrants' Matrimonial Ties to Home." Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, December 17, 2009, Features section, http://www.rferl.org/content/SMS_Divorces_Cut_Tajik/1896511.html.

This article discusses divorce as an impact of labor migration out of Tajikistan and into places like Russia. It points out that after receiving a text message from their husbands working abroad with the words "talaq," or divorce, many women do not know how to protect themselves through divorce proceedings in state court.  Sections: Laws vs. Reality; 'Part-Time Marriage'

Najibullah, Farangis. "In Central Asia, Unofficial Madrasahs Raise Official Fears" Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, January 27, 2010, Features section, http://www.rferl.org/content/In_Central_Asia_Unofficial_Madrasahs_Raise_Official_Fears_/1935068.html.

This articles discusses families that send their children to unofficial madrasas overseas. The fear is that since many of the overseas madrasas are not sanctioned by the domestic state, the children will bring back radical ideas.   

Contents: Unsanctioned Education; Anti-Extremist Efforts.  Descriptors: 2010s, e-news, interview, journalism, madrasa, N, post-Soviet, state control.