🏴 Husayni Mourning Around the World – 2026

🌐 120. Kyrgyzstan:

Ashura International Foundation / Husayni Mourning News – April 4, 2025:

The Kyrgyz Republic is located in the northeastern part of Central Asia. This country borders China to the east and southeast, Kazakhstan to the north, Tajikistan to the south, and the Republic of Uzbekistan to the west.

The beginning of Islam’s influence among the Kyrgyz dates back to the 9th to 12th centuries AD. The Shiites of Kyrgyzstan are former Soviet Azerbaijanis who were deported to these regions during the years of Stalinist repression. The number of Azerbaijanis in Kyrgyzstan, according to official statistics, exceeds fourteen thousand, but according to Azerbaijanis themselves, only seven thousand of them are Shiites. Bishkek, Kant, Tokmok, Osh, and Karabalta are considered the major Shiite cities of Kyrgyzstan.

Most residents of Kyrgyzstan are Muslim and Sunni. In cities such as Bishkek and Osh, mosques have existed for many years. According to official Kyrgyzstani authorities, over 120 sects have been registered in the country so far. In Kyrgyzstan, Turks are traditionally Muslim, while the Russian minority follows Christianity.

Kyrgyzstan’s population is approximately six million. About 80 percent of the country’s population are Hanafi Muslims, 15 percent are Orthodox Christians, and the remaining 5 percent follow other religions or various sects.

The situation of Shiites in Kyrgyzstan is better than in other Central Asian countries due to the relatively open political atmosphere. Of course, it can be said that Kyrgyzstan has almost no native Shiites, and they are all immigrants. Accordingly, the Shiite population of Kyrgyzstan consists of Azerbaijani, Afghan, Tajik, Pakistani, and Iranian nationals.

Most Shiites live in Bishkek, Kant, Tokmok, Osh, and Karabalta respectively, and each mourns for Sayyed al-Shuhada (a.s.) (the Master of Martyrs) in their place of residence. Additionally, some of them attend the Iranian Husayniyyah for mourning during the days of mourning.