Islam Karimov 1938 – 2016

Biography

Islam Karimov was born on January 30, 1938, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a city rich with historical significance. He would go on to become the first president of the Republic of Uzbekistan following its independence, serving as a pivotal leader during a transformative period in the nation’s modern history.

Throughout his tenure as president, Karimov played a central role in shaping Uzbekistan’s political and economic direction during its transition from Soviet rule to an independent nation. His leadership spanned a crucial era of nation-building and national development.

On September 2, 2016, Karimov passed away in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, following a cerebral hemorrhage. He was seventy-eight years old. In recognition of his status and legacy, he was interred at Hazrat-Hyzr Mosque in Samarkand, the city of his birth, returning him to his ancestral home and a place of spiritual significance.