Abstract:
This article investigates the effects of the Soviet social engineering project and forced
secularization in Central Asia. Emphasis is placed on the ideological foundations of
Marxism-Leninism, its stance on atheism, its holistic character, and its ideological
exclusivity. The article details the measures taken by authorities to eradicate religious
beliefs during the seventy years of Soviet rule. Taking the case of Tajikistan, it
highlights the remaining influence of Soviet policies on state-religion relations by
reviewing the functions and responsibilities of current regulatory institutions as well
as laws and official discourses framing religious practices.