THE FATE OF RELIGIOUS AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IN KAZAKHSTAN DURING THE SOVIET ERA

Abstract

The arrival of Islam in Central Asia and Kazakhstan in VІІ-VІІІ centuries. directly related to spiritual development. Receiving Islam among the first of the Turkic states, the study of the Koran and the use of the values of the Holy Book are guaranteed to create a solid foundation of the state. Unfortunately colonial rule in the nineteenth century Tsarist Russia in Kazakhstan, as well as the Communist era, which has existed on this earth 70 years, significantly undermined the foundations of Islam. The first years of Soviet power to exercise caution with respect to the religious feelings of the population. On the one hand, the Bolsheviks promised «Working Muslims’ protection of their rights, on the other hand, they sought to stifle the first stirrings of a democratic state. Soviet overtures to the Muslim East was in stark contrast to its militant anti-religious policy, which took place in the following years. In the second half of the 1920s in the Soviet Union began a massive attack on religion. Approval by the end of the totalitarian system of the 1920s gave rise to an unprecedented campaign against religious organizations and clergy, which were seen as political objects. OGPU authorities conducted various activities to prevent tacit association of Muslims, on the one hand, through religious organizations, and on the other, the clergy and the political consolidation of national intelligence. The Bolsheviks took the decision on the registration and de-registration of religious associations, the opening and closing of mosques, supervising the observance of the legislation on cults. This procedure resulted in the limitation and denial of their civil rights, started rough administrative control over all religious activities of the country. Islam has suffered more than other religions because the government conducted a grand experiment to replace the Arabic alphabet from the beginning of the Latin alphabet, and then to Cyrillic. The reform of the alphabet caused tremendous damage to the authority of Islam, has undermined the foundations of the spiritual and moral values of Muslim society. Suppressed any form resistance. Ban Muslim religious organizations, harassment and physical destruction of the mullahs and imams, closing mosques undermined organiztsionno-mobilization base of Islam in Kazakhstan. The changed life of Kazakhs helped erosion of religious traditions and the formation of an atheistic worldview Kazakh population.