Do you get the feeling "its time to stack the border regions.......NOW"? Especially in the northeast of the country? Surely there is a sense of unease any time this idiot opens his mouth. What's the thoughts? Do you give it credence? Or no?

Kazakhs Worried After Putin Questions History of Country's Independence - The Moscow Times

Russia's Appetite May Extend Beyond Ukraine | RAND

Are they applicable to anyone(foreigners, citizens, permanent residents, etc) who are currently residing in the country?

Is the death penalty usually applied when the Quran is deliberately burned with willful intent in front of many witnesses? How is this usually carried out in court and has anyone actually been sentenced to death by the the incumbent government?

Title: "The Act of Renunciation"

Under the blazing sun in Kabul’s crowded Shah-e-Do Shamshira Square, Daniel Harper, an American citizen, stood at the center of a storm he had orchestrated. In his hands, the Quran burned, its ashes scattering into the air as horrified onlookers gasped and shouted. His blasphemous tirade echoed through the square, and in an instant, he became the focus of a nation’s fury.

Unlike the carefully orchestrated legal mechanisms in neighboring Pakistan, Afghanistan—under Taliban rule—operated on a system deeply rooted in Sharia law, where acts of blasphemy were not only unforgivable but often met with immediate and extrajudicial consequences.

Act I: The Arrest

The crowd surged toward Daniel, but Taliban fighters stationed nearby quickly intervened. They subdued him and escorted him away to a makeshift holding area. His arrest was swift, and the evidence—witness testimonies, video recordings, and the charred remains of the Quran—was damning.

Daniel declared his intentions openly to the Taliban interrogators. "I renounce my U.S. citizenship and allegiance," he said. "I am under your laws now, and I accept my fate. I do not wish to be deported or defended."

His words were met with grim silence. The Taliban, known for their uncompromising stance on religious matters, saw his actions as a direct challenge to their authority and Islamic principles.

Act II: The Public Response and Judicial Process

News of the act spread across Afghanistan and the global media. In Afghanistan, the public outrage was immediate and visceral. Protests erupted in major cities, with citizens demanding swift justice. Under Taliban rule, public sentiment carried significant weight, especially on matters of faith.

The Taliban’s justice system operated differently from Pakistan’s formal courts. Decisions were often made swiftly by religious authorities based on their interpretation of Sharia law. There was little room for legal defense or lengthy deliberation.

Daniel’s trial, if it could be called that, occurred in a local Sharia court within days of his arrest. The evidence was presented, and Daniel himself confessed to the act without hesitation. He refused any legal representation or defense, reiterating his acceptance of the punishment.

The ruling was unequivocal: death for blasphemy.

Act III: The Diplomatic Fallout

The U.S. government, alerted to the situation, faced a diplomatic nightmare. Unlike in Pakistan, where formal diplomatic channels and public pressure could exert some influence, the Taliban’s government was far less susceptible to external appeals.

Efforts to intervene were complicated by the fact that Daniel had renounced his U.S. citizenship. The Taliban treated him not as an American, but as a foreign blasphemer who had knowingly committed a grave offense.

Behind the scenes, U.S. diplomats attempted backchannel negotiations, appealing to the Taliban’s desire for international legitimacy. However, the Taliban leadership saw no room for compromise. Allowing Daniel to go unpunished would be seen as a betrayal of their principles and a sign of weakness to their supporters.

Act IV: The Execution

Daniel’s execution was scheduled to take place in public, in line with the Taliban’s practice of making examples of those who defy Islamic law. The event was announced in local mosques and through Taliban-controlled media.

As he was led to the square where his act had occurred, Daniel remained eerily calm. "I knew this would be my fate," he said to the Taliban guards. "I wanted to test the depth of your convictions—and my own."

The execution was carried out before a crowd of thousands, many of whom chanted prayers as the sentence was delivered. News of the event sparked outrage and condemnation internationally, with human rights organizations and governments decrying the brutality of the punishment.

Act V: Aftermath and Global Repercussions

The fallout was severe. The U.S. government faced criticism for its inability to protect Daniel, despite his renunciation of citizenship. International organizations highlighted the case as evidence of the Taliban’s harsh governance and disregard for human rights.

In Afghanistan, Daniel’s act became a rallying cry for both the Taliban and their opponents. For the Taliban, it was proof of their unyielding commitment to Islamic law. For their critics, it underscored the oppressive nature of their rule.

Globally, Daniel’s story became a symbol of the complex interplay between personal freedoms, religious sensitivities, and geopolitical realities. Some saw him as a misguided provocateur, while others viewed his actions as a tragic commentary on the limits of free expression in an interconnected but deeply divided world.

Edit: Not sure why I am being downvoted. I am asking a genuine question about how blasphemy laws are implemented and if this hypothetical has any basis in reality.

Hi all,

I have been wanting to visit Bukhara and Samarkand and have finally set on going there april/may of 2025! I'm super excited and have about 18-19 days to spend in the region and was planning to visit some of the wider Central Asia region. There is however so much to do but also it is very geographically spread so I'm struggling what is reasonably doable and was hoping for you to share your experiences to help me planning.

I am quite fascinated by Ashgabat and would like to include the gas crater as well. So I was thinking to start my trip in Ashgabat and travel to Uzbekistan. A visit to Khiva seems logical in that case.

Meaning:

Day 1: Flight + Ashgabat 

Day 2: Ashgabat 

Day 3: Ashgabat - Derweze

Day 4: Derweze - Khiva

Day 5: Khiva

Day 6: Khiva - Bukhara

Day 7: Bukhara

Day 8: Bukhara to Samarkand

Day 9: Samarkand

Day 10: Samarkand to....

So here I'm considering what to do next.

Option 1: Travel across the border for three days to visit the seven lakes and iskanderkul in Tadzjikstan and then return to Samarkand. That leaves another four to five days. This probably involves visiting the Fergana area for two days and ending the trip at Tashkent for some days before flying back.

Option 2: Travel directly to the Fergana area and spend there 2 days. Then head on to Osh. I would then opt to travel to via road to Almaty or Bishek. Visiting the Son-kol lake and some other highlights.

Option 2a. Include Tasjkent while traveling to the Fergana area.

Option 3: Includes flight from Tasjkent to Bishek/Almaty and visit the Issyk-Kul from there. So skipping the Fergana area.

Option 4: Include a flight from Osh to Tamchy with TezJet, but I am not sure whether that is advised.

So I guess my main question is what area should I prioritize for stunning nature/birdwatching/eagle hunting craft. I'm not a big hiker, so would probably do moderate difficulty hikes of 3 hours.

1. North-West Tadzjikstan

2. East Kyrgyzstan (via Son-Kol)

3. Fergana

4. Issyk-Kol

I'm completely open to other suggestions as well.

Title: "The Renunciation"

The crowd gathered in stunned silence as the American citizen, Mark Lowell, stood defiantly in the center of the square in Lahore, Pakistan. Flames danced at his feet as the sacred text burned, his inflammatory remarks echoing in the charged atmosphere. Cameras captured every angle—news outlets and social media alike buzzed with the story within moments.

Act I: The Arrest

Within minutes, police swarmed the square, arresting Mark under Pakistan’s strict blasphemy laws, codified under Section 295 of the Penal Code. Witness testimonies, video evidence, and his own confession ensured an airtight case against him. Mark made no attempt to resist, declaring publicly:

"I renounce my allegiance to the United States and my citizenship. I accept the laws of Pakistan fully, even the penalty of death, for my actions today."

His words spread like wildfire, and public outrage turned to frenzy. Some demanded immediate justice; others saw his act as a sinister plot by an outsider to further divide the nation.

Act II: The Diplomatic Standoff

Back in Washington, the State Department scrambled. Blasphemy cases in Pakistan had long been a flashpoint in U.S.-Pakistan relations. A high-level meeting convened at the White House, with officials debating whether to intervene.

"He's no longer our problem if he’s renounced his citizenship," one adviser argued. "But his actions could destabilize relations further. Pakistan's judicial process must not be seen as a tool of retribution," countered another.

Meanwhile, in Lahore, U.S. consular officials tried to meet with Mark, but he refused them entry, reiterating his renunciation of citizenship. He insisted on standing trial under Pakistani law, refusing any assistance or extradition efforts.

Act III: The Trial

Mark’s trial began within weeks, fast-tracked due to public pressure. The court proceedings were intense, with both prosecution and defense presenting their cases. Blasphemy trials in Pakistan often invite international scrutiny, and this case was no exception. Human rights groups decried the process as unjust, while local religious leaders demanded adherence to the law.

In court, Mark shocked even his defense team by refusing to argue for leniency. "I do not seek mercy," he declared. "I committed this act knowingly. I accept the consequences."

His statements inflamed public opinion further, with massive protests erupting across the country.

Act IV: The Verdict and Its Aftermath

The court handed down the expected verdict: death by hanging. Mark’s stoic reaction garnered both admiration and condemnation. Some viewed his acceptance of the punishment as a bizarre form of martyrdom, while others saw it as proof of his guilt and arrogance.

Behind the scenes, diplomatic negotiations continued. The U.S. government, under immense domestic and international pressure, issued a formal statement condemning the punishment and reiterating its opposition to the death penalty. Pakistan, however, held firm, insisting on the sovereignty of its laws.

Mark’s execution date loomed, and protests on both sides of the issue reached a fever pitch. In the U.S., some argued that Mark’s renunciation of citizenship absolved America of any responsibility, while others saw his fate as a travesty of justice.

Epilogue: A Divided Legacy

Mark’s execution was carried out under heavy security to prevent riots. His final words were cryptic: "I sought to test the limits of belief, justice, and sovereignty. May my death be a question, not an answer."

International fallout was swift. Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan chilled, with human rights organizations condemning both Mark's act and Pakistan’s laws. Within Pakistan, Mark’s case became a symbol—either of the sanctity of the nation’s religious principles or of the dangers of extremism, depending on who told the story.

Back in the U.S., Mark’s actions sparked debates about freedom of expression, religious sensitivity, and the role of citizenship in a globalized world. His story was immortalized in books, films, and political discourse, but the man himself became a polarizing figure, remembered as both a provocateur and a cautionary tale.

This narrative reflects the legal and cultural complexities such an act would entail, as well as the profound consequences for the individual and the nations involved. Let me know if you'd like to explore specific angles further!

Afghanistan is a country based that is centered around mountain ranges.

I was wondering if culture in the North is closer to Central Asia in culture; and culture in the South is closer to Southern Asian in culture.

Thoughts?

Do Central Asians have the same beauty standards as Chinese, Japanese & Koreans? Examples would be K-pop/K-dramas stars & actors in Chinese cinema. Small V-shaped face, Big eyes, small nose, pale skin, very slim etc.

It seems that everyone stopped condemning china about the xinjiang genocide. Why is this the case? Why have even the governments of Turkic States gone silent? Some Muslims on the internet even help China deny the genocide. What is going on? How much hush money did China pay for them all to zip their lips?

What are your thoughts on this organization? I’m also curious as to why Hungary has observer status but Mongolia doesn’t. Also why hasn’t Turkmenistan joined and only remains an observer?

I keep hering the theory of ancient origin of turks being altai mountains and having similarities with mongols regarding religion and language. But the questioning factor is their looks.

ancient mongolian has narrow eyes, flat and broad face and forehead and silky hair with yellowish skin.

turks has larger eyes, narrower jawline and forehead and wavy hair with white skin .

another factor being turkik language then did sound similar to mongols but not same

Turks did have different society compared to mongols and occassional mixing has been noticed between these two groups.

then are they connected , are they same or were they different but due to living in same area automatically had similar characteristics?

Hello!

This is kind of embarrassing for me (F21) to ask… So I was born in Astana, Kazakhstan to a Russian mother (15y/o) and a Kazakh father (age unknown). I was put up for adoption the day I was born and adopted by a beautiful loving single mother in the USA.

Growing up, when people were trying to guess my ethnicity, they were always stumped. I have Asiatic features but also European features, as would make sense for a Kazakh/Russian mix.

Growing up in the USA with a Polish mom, I thought I was white too. It wasn’t until I got older I realized I wasn’t white enough to be white, but I wasn’t Asian enough to be Asian.

A friend told me that I’m dumb for thinking I’m Asian… but like, I was BORN in Central ASIA. (?!) And I actually haven’t done a DNA/ancestry test at all either. I don’t know, I’ve just always been scared??! It’s hard to place an identity when you’re adopted, especially from a place with so many different ethnicities and cultures.

I’ve adopted white culture which probably makes me seem like the typical American who doesn’t understand geography/culture. Sorry. I just felt like living in ignorance and being myself was more important, but the older I get, the more conscious I am of my identity.

I barely know the name of my biological father and mother. His information was purposely left out by my biological Grandmothwr (Russian.) I think it’s time I take the step and visit Kazakhstan and meet them soon. Who knows if they’re even alive?!

Anyway, this was a whole rant, but BASICALLY, I am struggling with my ethnic identity. Things I have said here were probably ignorant or shameful and I am so sorry about that!!! I just feel kinda…. stupid. Should I just do an ancestry test at this point?!

I once read about this cave in Kazakhstan or somewhere else in Central Asia where a fresco of Buddha had been made next to a Tengric one after the Tengrists became Buddhists. It was in a cave. And later after they became muslim, a mosque was built on top of the cave, using the cave as a base. The original Tengric and Buddhist art was still in the cave.

After some googling, I realized it might the Tamgaly-Tas Petroglyphs , but those are just Buddhist. There's no Tengric art there. And there's no mosque on top of the cave.

I am from Turkiye and the Turkic languages in Central Asia seems similar up to a degree despite living apart for about 1000 years. What really amazes me is how the numbers are mutually intelligible. Apart from the obvious 0, all the numbers are mutually intelligible. How was this possible and is there something special about the numbers.

I even cannot find the similarity in languages where they were together since many times, like German and Dutch or Italian and Spanish.

According to Wikipedia North East Iran and Irani Khorasan is located in central Asia and to make sure I just wanted to double check with the Central Asians.

Since Uyghurs have had a more unique history of interaction with other civilizations, and their own ethnogenesis how do you feel in comparison to other Turkic groups?

Can I get?

They are even willing to work for break crumbs if it means to living here permanently. What jobs are available?

Of course, they are proficient in English.

You think Karakalpakstan will ever be an independent country. You think they deserve the right for it? I am not trying to irritate ozbek people, but it's a quite a bit more than one's ego. And what scenarios in your opinion would be acceptable for ozbek people to not resist?

Me personally, believe that if Karakalpak people offer ~200k km^2 of land ozbek will accept and let it become an independent country with no blood .

From Stalinist times onwards, was there governmental pressure for schools to convert to Russian as their medium of schooling? Was it an option for parents to choose Kazakh or Kyrgyz education in the major cities?

I'm interested in modern, urban, everyday attitudes and mentalities.

Things such as:

- gender roles

- social hierachy

- imporance of making (a lot of) money, showing off

- size of weddings

- political engagement/activism

- levels of aggression

- prevalence of conspiracy theories/antivaxxers/authoritarian attitudes

- positive/negative outlook on the future

- environmental awareness

I am running DnD for a friend group that takes place in an area I am basing heavily on pre-russian conquest Siberia and political entities like the Golden Horde.

I am however a white guy from America so most of my knowledge comes from a lot of pop history, Wikipedia, and playing EU4. I want to avoid falling into weird orientalist stereotypes, and portray the people of these cultures as sympathetic and decent but not flawless.

Are there any good sources on like, the non-military daily life of folk during the era of the Golden Horde, and Ilkhanate? What was life like for farmers and herders, or the material culture.

For lighter, leather armour Kazakh and Kyrgyz armour does look typical for nomads. But when we look at heavier armour, things look a bit different. If you watch Myn Bala or the Kazakh Khanate TV series, you can see how the Dzungar armour is lamella and more typical of nomadic empires (and in my opinion more east asian) compared that to the Kazakh armour which looks more middle eastern (for some reason, the female warriors of Kazakh Khanate show wear a different armour). I find this especially interesting since central asia was part of the Mongol Empire, the Uzbeks and Kazakhs are sucessors to the golden horde and even Gokturk and Avar times the Turkic nomadic empires used lamella armour similar to the Dzungar one.(https://www.reddit.com/r/ArmsandArmor/comments/16l6k56/gokturkold\_turkic\_armor\_and\_arrows/). So why did the Kazakhs and Uzbeks kinda stopped wearing heavy lamella armour (was it persian or ottoman influence or did they find the new armour style more practical for their surroundings). But when Orban visited Bishkek, he was welcomed by warriors wearing armour that look similar to Mongolian armour (it could be light armour since it was leather) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNk6FS25MSo)

I also find it interesting that most the territories that were under the Mongol Empire didn't adopt Mongolian style Lamella armour in a wide scale. The ottomans also didn't make use of lamella armour much.

edit: wish I could change the title, not Western but Foreign. English is my third language so pardon the mistakes in advance, hope to get my point across well. These are my thoughts, I wish to stand corrected. Over the last couple of years, maybe mid 2010s, I started noticing a worrying pattern in my home country, from a word of mouth of my friends/relatives etc in other countries as well, that there is a shift towards the capitalistic individualistic society. I don't see myself as a communist and being a part of ussr had pros and cons, pros: education, social systems/benefits, healthcare, a little suffering brought us together and so forth, cons: cultural erasure, genocide and so forth. What worries me a little bit after having lived in foreign, european countries is that back in the day we used to think 'oh the developed west, the european quality' and nowadays there is an active effort and passive acceptance of certain behaviours not only by the youth. There has been a rise in drugs, religious fanatics, the secluded individualistic money slaves, decline in quality control of the producta, healthcare, public services. There are undoubtedly positive aspects as well but for now I want to focus on the troubled side. Government has always been corrupt but back then at least they stole while doing something for the country, even if the goal in mind was just not to get left behind the competitors. There is certainly some things we could learn from the western and eastern extremely capitalistic countries but it seems like we've taken in the unwanted parts. In couple of countries that were idolised when I was growing up the streets are filled with trash, homeless, the wealth inequality is absurd, the healthcare is somehow 90 times more expensive, 10 times lower in quality and hard to access for an average citizen, the local students are failing in schools, at least they can rely on first/second generation migrants who study for difficult professions and help to support the country. The states has a radically capitalistic system with the billionaires lobbying the government, broken education, wellfare and healthcare, drugs, with them turning against their own people because of the skin. Such future is scary, I don't want my children to live in that kind of world, the fact that my daughter would've been treated better 50 years ago in the xussr country than modern usa is not a pleasant thought. I don't want a bleak future for my country or any of our neighbours. Have you noticed any concerning patterns as well? Maybe something positive?

tldr: rise in religous separatists, decline in public education/healthcare/wellfare, rise of drug usage, unhealthy lifestyles with an emphasis on profit

Am I just exagerrating and a paranoid geriatric patient?

Are most of them religious or secular?

It's been reported before that Donald Trump had made bans on Muslims migrants before during his first presidency. Now, starting January 20, 2025, he'll be the new President of the United States. Will the new Trump administration change its foreign policy towards Central Asia? What do you think?

I saw all of the cities of central asian countries very beautiful.I saw even woman wearing shirt and pant in the street or with western cloths also and even hijabis also.The cities were really nice and I fall in love with the cities.I can happily live in these conservative countries my whole life such beatiful country you guys live.you guys should be very much lucky to live in such cities.