This speech went public on 21 June 2010. It has not lost its urgency as the humiliations of Uzbeks are still continuing in Osh, Jalal-Abad and adjacent regions. That is why we decided to publish the speech in Russian and English languages.

Editorial staff of «Islom ovozi» (Voice of Islam).

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Dear brothers from Osh and Jalal-Abad, people and the leaders of Kyrgyzstan! All the sober-minded people, particularly Uzbeks and Kyrgyzs that live in different parts of the world have been anxiously observing the bloody events that occur in your country. We all condole to your tragedy. And we hope to be able to be at any assistance and pray to Allah for these miserable days to end.

Today one can clearly observe how leaders of Muslim countries in their policies isolate themselves from ordinary people, and their grief. They do not see the tragedy of people as their own, and deal with people’s everyday problems only after dealing with their own. The majority of nowadays leaders are keen to establish their own security before the safety of the nation and think of the ways of holding to their position for a longer time. Spirit of nationalism prevails in their policies. While others at times express their senseless hostility and hate in various ways towards Muslims.

The best nation of all…

After observing the Nazism in one’s nature, the shattered person would want to ask what nation is best of all. Perhaps, they are Arabs, as Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)? Or maybe they are Uzbeks or Kyrgyzs? If there were a need in superiority of any nation then it would probably be Arabs whom His messenger belonged to? But here is what Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) said:

«لا فضل لعربي على عجمي ، ولا لعجمي على عربي ، ولا لأبيض على أسود ، ولا لأسود على أبيض – : إلا بالتقوى ، الناس من آدم ، وآدم من تراب». (شرح الطحاوية، الألباني: صحيح).

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said «There is no superiority between Arab and non Arab. There is neither superiority between white and black men. Only righteousness and God consciousness of a person make him superior to others. Human kind was born from Adam and Adam was created from dried clay of altered mud». (Sharh at Tahawi, Al Albani )

What is the superiority of clay over clay? Why would a nation created from dried clay see themselves higher than another nation? Why would they hurt a different nation? What stops them to see everyone equal? What caused them to become like this? Where does the root of this inequality lie?

The first teaching on equality.

Equality has always been one of the dearest values. Nations of the world had suffered from inequality for thousands of years. Many suffer from it up until today.

When did the first concepts on equality appear? What teaching does it belong to? We can proudly announce that it belongs to Islam- teachings of Allah. Allah taught this concept through his Messengers from the day the mankind was created.

Throughout the centuries Islam has been a teaching that called the human kind for equality and freedom, and implemented these concepts into life. This teaching has been the religion of Central Asian nations, the Uzbeks, Turkmens, Kyrgyzs and Kazakhs. However, many of these people despite being Muslims do not know much about Islam or prefer not to practice what they know.

Others pursued the worldly studies, without paying necessary attention to Islamic teachings. Thanks to the worldly knowledge some achieved high ranking posts becoming politicians that lead the state and society. In it hard to believe that knowledge they pursued lacked the understanding of ‘equality’.

Historians link the freedom that human being is entitled to as well as the equality between nations to eighteenth century French revolution. The freedom, equality and brotherhood were the main slogans for the revolutionaries of those days. Indeed, those slogans are humane in its meaning. The revolution proved that no matter what person’s nationality is, he needed and still needs the freedom, equality and brotherhood.

For this very reason Allah declared this principle long before people started thinking of the French revolution and politicians talking about it.

 {يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ} [الحجرات:13].

 «O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you.» (Al Hujarat:13).

This means that no nation or race is in any way better than the other. All ethnicities and nationalities of this world: Aryans (indo- European nationalities), Semites (Babylonians, Assyrians, ancient Jews and ancient Arabs), Hamites and other ethnicities come from one same place.

Allah the Almighty granted us stories about ancient ethnicities.

وَإِلَى عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُوداً قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ أَفَلاَ َتَّقُونَ(65)

«To the Ad people, (We sent) Hud one of their (own) brethren: he said: «O my people! Worship Allah! Ye have no other deity but Him. Will ye not fear (Allah)?» (Al Araf: 65).

وَإِلَى ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُه… (73)

«To the Thamud people (We sent) Salih one of their own brethren…» (Al Araf: 73).

The tribes where Salih and Hud were sent to as Messengers were non believers. However Allah the Almighty in this case turned the attention to a different aspect of their relationship with the tribes, which is the blood relationship and called them brothers. This method is valuable in conciliating the relationship between groups, that are completely contradictive in their religion and ideology. These verses prove that there is always a possibility to stabilize even the hardest situations using the concept of equality.

Everyone deserves respect

All people have only one God, one mother and one father. They used to have one religion and one language, until they splat into different nations. No matter what nationality or faith one belongs to, he remains a human. And a human deserves respect.

عَن قَيْس بْن سَعْدٍ وَسَهْل بْن حُنَيْفٍ. فَقَالاَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّتْ بِهِ جَنَازَةٌ فَقَامَ فَقِيلَ إِنَّهُ يَهُودِىٌّ. فَقَالَ: «أَلَيْسَتْ نَفْسًا». (رواه مسلم).

Here is the story from Qays ibn Saad and Sahel ibn Hunayf. One day people who carried the coffin of Jew were passing by Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Prophet stood up in respect. When people told it was coffin of the Jew, Messenger of Allah said: «Is not he an owner of a soul (human)?» (Muslim)

عَن جَابِر يَقُولُ قَامَ النَّبِىُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَصْحَابُهُ لِجَنَازَةِ يَهُودِىٍّ حَتَّى تَوَارَتْ. (رواه مسلم).

Here is the story from Jaber. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) and his companions stood up in respect when the coffin of a Jew was carried nearby. They remained on their feet up until the coffin disappeared from their sight. (Muslim)

Islam as a symbol of equality

Islam as religion not only calls people for faith but also spreads ideas of equality among them. It is implemented in practical way of lifestyle as well as the theoretical level. Worship in Islam is an obvious proof for this. Look at the people in the mosque. There are different people representing various social classes of the society. Important point is that during the prayer everyone, whether he is a king or a beggar, a minister or a guard, is absolutely equal. There are no specially intended places for presidents, or general of military forces or average citizen in the mosque. Whoever comes first prays at the front rows. The one who arrives late prays at the back rows even if he is high ranking official. The rich and poor, ministers and average citizens stand shoulder to shoulder during the prayer and equally worship their Lord.

One can observe aspects of equality even clearer during Hajj (pilgrimage) season. While mosque cannot disguise the social status of worshiper because of his clothes, pilgrimage wipes off even this difference, as everyone is dressed the same. All the signs that indicate social class and give privileges to their owner in normal life should be removed. Everyone covers themselves in white two piece fabric called ihram. This clothing attire that resembles kafan (Islamic shroud) indicates that all the people are children of Adam and everyone is equal in front of Allah. It also reminds people that everyone would eventually leave to their God. Everyone appears in the identical attire no matter what they are in their own lives. They will be dressed in the same simple garment when they are dead. The bitter truth of equality will only be seen on the Day of Judgement, when kings and poor rise from graves naked, without their shrouds. The ones, who are dressed, would be clothed by Allah. The most respected would be people of good deeds.

In Islam all people are equal when allotted privileges in this life. The same principle will be applied in the other life for the punishments for the wrong doings. The boundaries for permitted and prohibited are equal for everyone. That is why a call for account will be equal for everyone too.

«Even if it was a daughter of Muhammad…»                                

An unpleasant incident of theft occurred in one of the Quraysh tribes, which were the most respected among Arab tribes. It was revealed the thief was a woman who belonged to the tribe. The family members that feared the shame more than a punishment decided to ask Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for an advice. But who could talk to the Prophet? People told Osama bin Zaid could accomplish the task, as he was Prophets favourite companion.

When Osama came and explained the story, Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) got very angry with that mediation. Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) came out to people and made a khutbah (preaching) which were boldly recorded in the history.

«إنما هلك الذين قبلكم: أنهم كانوا إذا سرق فيهم الشريف تركوه، وإذا سرق فيهم الضعيف أقاموا عليه الحد، وايم الله، لو سرقت فاطمة بنت محمد، لقطعتُ يدها». (رواه البخاريومسلم وأبو داود والترمذي والنسائي وابن ماجة عن عائشة).

«O people, those who have gone before you were destroyed, because if any one of high rank committed theft amongst them, they spared him; and it anyone of low rank committed theft, they inflicted the prescribed punishment upon him. By Allah, if Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, were to steal, I would have her hand cut off !» (Bukhari, Muslim).

Oh Allah! Fatima (peace be upon her) was the youngest and beloved daughter of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the only link to connect the descendants to Prophet.

Why would the Messenger of Allah bring such a notable woman as an example to emphasize the equality of people in the punishments for their crimes? It is a proof of importance of equality between people. No one owns an inviolability status before the laws of Allah. These sorts of statuses can be observed only nowadays. Who doubts that equality will triumph only if a man relies on principles of justice, which is free of any inviolabilities? Is there any other way? The society lacking justice is the society with no equality, and it is doomed for failure, said Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).

Unfortunately Kyrgyz authorities showed no justice against unthinkable oppressions and mass murders. Where did the leadership objectivity and courage go? There is no point to speak of bravery and courage when these leaders haven’t got even a human will power! The Kyrgyz authorities are far away from justice and truth. Would the Kyrgyz authorities or mayor of Osh city dare saying: «People should and will be punished for the committed crimes according to Kyrgyz laws whether they are in my ethnicity, even if they are my family or not». Would it be considered wrong to say anything of this sort? Why none of the government officials have courage to say this? Why can’t Bakiyev demand to find and punish those criminals? Why do Bakiev’s supporters keep quiet about those who had raped and killed five year old girls, murdered infants in the cradles, burnt women alive, abused, humiliated and killed the men after castrating them? Why do they keep telling that they are not guilty and keep quiet about the real number of dead? Are those inviolable persons somehow better than those who are dead?

Where is the justice? Where is benevolence? Where is the shame?

Officials have been arresting and torturing peaceful citizens instead of the criminals. Human rights activists and journalists are being abused and all their video and photo material is being confiscated. What is the meaning of all this?

Today’s horrible brutality

Today on 21 of June I watched a horrible video on the internet. Thousands of people have watched it already. It will be watched by other thousands or even millions of viewers. The video was on the Youtube for few hours and then urgently removed. But the same video exists on the other websites too. I don’t think Kyrgyz authorities or anyone else can get rid of this video. It became a part of a history. Many of us heard that people are being burnt alive in Osh and Jalal-Abad, however we never imagined we would ever see those shots. This is how Allah reveals the faces of the criminals. By the will of Allah the criminals will expose themselves. If the criminals are not hold responsible, Kyrgyzstan will be noted in a history as a country that permitted the largest bloody massacre of 21^st century. I called this video a symbol of Osh and Jalal-Abad tragedy.

I could not force myself to watch the video once again. Two people were burnt alive there. More than 50 people were watching it and chanting: «no extinguishing! No extinguishing!». The man on fire ran screaming for help. He fell. One of the guys came up and kicked him. The man’s clothes were all burnt, he was still on fire but naked.

Oh Allah! What is this brutality? What is this torture?

How did those participants and witnesses go wild? What is your nation? What is your religion? Whom do you belong to? Do you have anything holy in your lives? What is it, is it religion, ideology, motherland, nation or parents? Who are those parents that call you their child? Who are those leaders that call you their citizens?

I cannot delete a horrible sight of this video from my memory. How do you, the participants and witnesses, live with that? Where is your conscious, faith, soul? How can you live with that? Haven’t you once regretted and asked yourself of what you had done? Have you ever acknowledged that you became a companion in murdering two people by burning them alive? Have you ever acknowledged that you were a murderer of humans just like you? Have you ever regretted and told yourself that you are a criminal, a murderer, and have no right to live in this world?

Why did not you help those people, why did you let them burn?

Oh Allah! Indeed you are their creator! Will you guide them to right way? Will they ever find their path? Or is it how you prepare them for the Hell?

The murderers! Be prepared! As you are getting closer to the fire of Hell!

Leaders be with people!

O leaders! The respect and dignity of Uzbeks from Osh and Jalal-Abad has been wiped off. And it is still continuing. Uzbeks are being killed by the soldiers that are out on inspections. The radio Liberty yesterday reported of another three Uzbeks killed in Osh by Kyrgyz military.

The military operation of Special Forces held today in Nariman resulted in injuries 23 civilians. At least two people were shot. Civilians were humiliated and beaten. All this was reported by human rights activists.

Even the bodies of killed Uzbeks weren’t respected. Bodies remained where they perished. People weren’t let to transport the bodies of killed and bury them at the cemeteries. Gunmen opened fire against them. That is how the graves in the yards of the houses appeared. However, the authorities did not pay any attention to it. If the servicemen deny acts of shooting against civilians, why didn’t the state organize the special commission under the military patronage to carry out decent burials?

Kyrgyz authorities, please treat all your people equally! Do not discriminate any nation! Go and visit the homes of the raped, humiliated, burnt alive, killed! Express your condolences! Beg for their compassion because you couldn’t protect them! Call the military to order! Suppress their hate to people!

We know that you don’t need the votes of Uzbeks. You will win the elections without them. That is why, you will never see your voters even if you arrive to Osh. Don’t you need the respect of the people? How would they know whom to follow is you don’t set yourself an example for them? An example of brotherhood and equality… You don’t want to go back to dictatorship, do you?

You created an «island of democracy» in central Asia. You gave people freedom. But you couldn’t preserve that freedom. Positive changes in Kyrgyzstan were not welcomed by freedom opponents. People of Kyrgyzstan, particularly Muslims enjoyed their liberty more than folks from neighbouring countries, which wasn’t saluted by the enemies of Islam. This is one of the causes of the massacre. I don’t think it would have happened if residents of Osh were non Muslims. But if it would have happened, the neighbouring countries would have involved long time ago.

You had both freedom and Muslimness. Who knows maybe that is why you were treated like this, maybe this is the reason of no one helping you? Do you want to turn away from freedom after all this? Do you want to join the army of those who trampled the sprouts of liberty, that you sow? Do you agree for «strangers» to rule your military forces as much as you do?

Be with your people to recover from such a blindness. Live their pain, be equally just to everyone. You have to become an example of compassion to the oppressed. Treat all the ethnicities equally. This is the only way to become a strong and just society.

Those who killed Uzbeks are also the enemies of Kyrgyz nation, freedom, Islam. We hope they will receive and serve their punishment soon.

We pray to Allah for peace for all ethnicities living in Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Uyghur, Dungan, Russians and others. We wish Kyrgyz authorities strong political will, and power to treat every resident of Kyrgyzstan equally during these hard days.

21 June 2010