The Dictatorship of Saparmurat Niyazov

The documentary Shadow of the Holy Book reveals the secretive and repressive dictatorship of Saparmurat Niyazov, Turkmenistan’s head of state from 1985 to 2006, and the Western companies who did business with him.

Niyazov’s autobiographical and highly ideological text, the Ruhnama, is the cornerstone of the all-pervasive cult of personality he built during his lifetime. It was the required text at all education levels and ultimately used to justify widespread human rights violations. In attempts to gain access to the country's natural resources, a number of Western industrial giants had the Ruhnama translated into several languages.

At a recent post-screening discussion, the filmmakers and a leading human rights activist from Turkmenistan analyzed how much has really changed with the new ruler and the Western economic interests in the country.

Listen above.