The Soviet Paradox: Simultaneous Acts of Preserving and Destroying the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

Soviet authorities simultaneously preserved and undermined the religious significance of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a revered Sufi site, through contradictory measures. While they aimed to convert it into an atheist museum as part of their secularization efforts, prolonged restoration delays and the absence of explicit atheist labeling prevented full ideological imposition. This paradoxical approach is revealed through newly uncovered archival documents, offering insight into how Soviet policies sought to erase religious reverence while maintaining cultural heritage.

Zholdassuly, T., & Benhür, Ç. (2026). THE SOVIET PARADOX: SIMULTANEOUS ACTS OF PRESERVING AND DESTROYING THE MAUSOLEUM OF KHOJA AHMED YASAWI. Türk Kültürü Ve Hacı Bektaş Veli Araştırma Dergisi, (117), 121–140. https://doi.org/10.60163/tkhcbva.1836261