The ACTIVITIES OF OFFICIAL SERVANTS OF THE MUSLIM RELIGION AND UNREGISTERED ANONYMOUS MULLAHS IN THE 1980s. IN WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The focus of this article is on the activities of ministers of official religious associations of Muslims and unregistered non-mosque mullahs in the 1980s. in Western Kazakhstan. Author draws conclusions on the religious situation based on an analysis of information from various archival sources. Article provides information on number of mosque parishioners and amounts of their contributions, and also describes the policy of the Soviet Union regarding religion. It was revealed that decline of activity of registered religious associations in cities was associated with the widespread atheism propaganda, while in the villages and small towns of the Western regions of Kazakhstan, where there was no official Muslim clergy, unregistered mullahs were vigorously active. It is also noted that the process of legalizing activities of non-mosque mullahs and attempts to integrate some of their representatives into the activities of registered Muslim religious associations had examples of a beneficial effect on the religious situation in the regions of Western Kazakhstan and contributed to improving the economic condition of officially operating mosques.