In 1991, Tajikistan, a Persianate, primarily Sunni Muslim Central Asian state, gained independence from the Soviet Union. The isolated mountain community of minority Shia Muslims retained their Islamic faith during the 70-year period of Soviet atheism. Learn how they have preserved their culture in post-Soviet life.
Presented by Dr. Zahra Jamal, senior research associate at the Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality and the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago, where she directs the Civil Islam Initiative.