The Publication of the Journal of “Oyina” and the Problems of Military Censorship

One of the prominent leaders of the Jadid movement, Mahmudkhoja Behbudi, published ‘Oyina’, which holds a distinguished place as the first journal in the history of the national press. ‘Oyina’ embodied the progressive traditions of contemporary journalism and functioned as a powerful platform articulating the aspirations and ideals of the local peoples of the region. Under the distinctive editorial leadership of Mahmudkhoja Behbudi, the journal provided assessments of political, socio-economic, and spiritualeducational developments, consistently reflecting the interests of the indigenous population. Although its publication encountered significant challenges, such as financial constraints, a shortage of subscribers and contributors, and the constant oversight of censorship, the journal remained firmly committed to its mission and objectives, making a substantial contribution to the struggle for national independence of the peoples of the region. The present article seeks to analyze these dimensions in detail.