Kyrgyz teenager fulfils forefathers' dreams

Dubai: Seventeen-year-old Akparali Abdullah memorised the Quran to fulfil the aspirations of his forefathers as they did not have the opportunities to practice Islam as he does.

"I wanted to honour their aspiration and to preserve the Islamic culture in our family and country," said the Kyrgyz teenager, a participant at the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.

Abdullah was born in Kyrgyzstan but moved to Egypt in 1995 with his parents and siblings as they wanted to study Islamic teachings from the renowned Al Azhar University.

The family of eight occasionally visits Kyrgyzstan, which is increasingly getting closer to Islamic culture. During the era when the country was under communist rule, atheism was encouraged.

"Although I was young then, my grandparents and parents vividly remember the Soviet days where they used to kill anyone, especially religious scholars, who practised religion," said Akparali.

Today, Kyrgyzstan is a secular state although Islam is exerting growing influence in politics. For instance, there have been various attempts to decriminalise polygamy, and to arrange for officials to travel on Haj under a tax-free arrangement.

While Islam in Kyrgyzstan is more a cultural influence than a devout daily practice for many, public figures have expressed support for restoring religious values, he said.

Kyrgyzstan is opening more Islamic institutes and centres to spread religious teachings. Further, as he said, there is a growing presence of Pakistani preachers calling for Islam in Kyrgyzstan.

The contestant started memorising at the age of six and completed it when he was nine.

"My grandfather is living his dreams through his grandchildren who now have the freedom to practice their religion. I recall seeing my grandfather crying upon knowing I completed learning it," he said in fluent Arabic.