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THE EMERGING ROLE OF ISLAM IS AN EVERYday fact of life in Uzbekistan. After years of state-led repression, it is now acceptable for Uzbeks to publicly display their religiosity. Because the majority of Uzbekistan's citizens are Muslim, they want to once again see Islam as an inherent part of their spiritual and cultural heritage. They are renovating many religious sites and constructing mosques across the country. In light of that new reality, Uzbek President Islam Karimov has worked to incorporate Islam into his regime.