RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND INTERFAITH HARMONY IN UZBEKISTAN

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The Declaration of Independence and the commitment of the Government of Uzbekistan to the ideals of democracy, the choice of a secular development for society, gradually made it possible to create equal legal conditions for all religions in general and for religious groups in particular.

In the religious sphere, this large-scale work is being carried out by relevant government agencies and civil society institutions, aimed at ensuring citizens' constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of conscience and strengthening religious pluralism, tolerance and interfaith dialogue.

One of the significant outcomes of our collective efforts is the adoption by the UN General Assembly in December 2018 of a special resolution on "Education and Religious Tolerance".

The adoption of the resolution was the practical realization of the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, put forward at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. The main goal of the proposed resolution was to "ensure universal access to education and eliminate illiteracy and ignorance."

It is noteworthy that the resolution was not only unanimously supported by all UN member states, but also adopted with the co-authorship of over 50 countries. This indicates the high recognition by the international community of the relevance and timeliness of President Mirziyoyev’s initiative.

The document aims to "promote tolerance and mutual respect, ensure religious freedom, protect the rights of believers, and prevent discrimination against them."

The resolution emphasizes the important role of promoting peace, human rights, tolerance, and friendship, and recognizes the importance of integration, mutual respect, tolerance and mutual understanding in strengthening global security and peace.

The document welcomes all international, regional and national initiatives aimed at promoting interreligious, intercultural and interfaith harmony and combating discrimination based on religion or belief.

At the same time, the adopted resolution calls on UN member states to implement appropriate communication strategies, such as large-scale propaganda in national and international media, including the Internet, and to disseminate educational information about tolerance, nonviolence, and freedom of religion or belief.

The document also recognizes UNESCO's key role in promoting world peace and security by fostering cooperation between nations through education, science, and culture.

In recent years, significant changes have occurred in Uzbekistan, and large-scale reforms have been implemented in various areas, including religious education.

A number of legislative acts have been adopted to improve activities in the religious sphere.

The International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan has been established to provide in-depth study of Islam and teach its scientific foundations. The academy specializes in teaching both secular and religious knowledge, training qualified personnel in the Quran, Islamic law, religious dogmas and hadith.

Uzbekistan employs unique mechanisms to revive national and religious values, study and promote the rich scientific and spiritual heritage of its great ancestors, and strengthen religious tolerance in society. The Center for Islamic Civilization and the International Research Centers of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi and Imam Maturidi have been established.

As a result of the large-scale reforms and transformations in the religious sphere, the Mir Arab higher madrasah in Bukhara, the School of Hadith studies in Samarkand, the Imam Termizi madrasah and the Imam Termizi Islamic Institute in Termez have begun operations.

In addition, the "Waqf" charitable public foundation was established under the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan. The foundation’s tasks include financing the reconstruction of mosques, holy places of pilgrimage, and other facilities, providing a logistical base, and offering financial support to workers in this field. The foundation was given the opportunity to manage funds credited to three accounts: charity, waqf, and zakat (ushr, fidya, fitr).

In accordance with the adopted legislative acts, the Committee on Religious Affairs’ activities have been further improved, including approval of a new composition of the Council on Religious Affairs, a public advisory body under the Committee.

The Council's activities are closely linked to ensuring religious freedom in the country and respecting the rights of religious organizations and believers. The initiatives of the Council members are being fully implemented as part of the country's efforts to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of religious movements.

The significance and timeliness of the measures taken by the country's leadership led to the international forum "Dialogue of Declarations" held from May 16-20, 2022, in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara. This event was part of Uzbekistan's systematic efforts to implement the principles enshrined in the UN General Assembly’s Special Resolution on "Education and Religious Tolerance," adopted in 2018 at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

It is especially noteworthy that at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, the "Bukhara Declaration," adopted as a result of this forum, was recognized as an official UN document. As an official UN document, it has been translated into six languages and distributed among UN member states and specialized agencies of the organization.

Currently, the Uzbek side, together with foreign partners, has begun preparations for the next round of the international forum "Dialogue of Declarations". The event is scheduled for September 10-13, 2025, in Tashkent and Samarkand.

Uzbekistan observes special dates related to the religious life of believers: "Peoples' Friendship Day", celebrated on July 30, and the "International Day of Tolerance," celebrated on November 16. Both of these dates are marked not only by events but also by the presentation of appropriate awards. Since 2021, the "Xalqlar Do’stligi" ("Friendship of Peoples") badge has been awarded, and since 2023, the "Diniy Bag'rikenglik" ("Religious Tolerance") badge has been given to distinguished citizens, including representatives of various religious denominations in Uzbekistan.

At the same time, Uzbekistan places great importance on preserving religious and spiritual heritage, enriching existing archives, and creating the necessary conditions for local and foreign researchers to work with historical sources. A comprehensive study of historical and cultural heritage is a priority.

Today, in order to ensure interethnic and interfaith harmony in society, a legislative framework has been created in the country that ensures respect for the rights and legitimate interests of citizens.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan establishes a norm on the freedom of religion of every person. Attention is also being paid to improving and liberalizing national legislation in the field of religion. Procedures for obtaining permits for the manufacture, import and distribution of religious literature have been simplified. The procedure for state registration of religious organizations has been further optimized.

A new Law on "Freedom of conscience and religious organizations" is currently in force, which helps ensure the constitutional rights of citizens to freedom of conscience and religion.

Noting the fundamental innovations in the Law as a consistent continuation of large-scale reforms in the religious and educational sphere, special attention should be paid, first of all, to creating favorable conditions for ensuring freedom of conscience of every person, clarifying law enforcement practice.

Currently, a total of 2372 religious organizations of 16 religious denominations operate in Uzbekistan. Of these, there are 2174 muslim organizations, which is 92 percent of the total number.

There are also 180 christian organizations in Uzbekistan, 8 jewish communities, 7 baha'i faith communities, one Hare Krishna society and one buddhist temple, as well as the interfaith Bible society of Uzbekistan.

Recently, 133 religious organizations have been registered in Uzbekistan, including 3 higher and one specialized secondary Islamic educational institutions in Bukhara, Samarkand and Termez, 105 mosques and 24 non-islamic organizations of 7 different religious denominations.

At the same time, the national legislation of Uzbekistan does not provide for any restrictions on the number of religious organizations or the timing of their registration.

Religious organizations operating in the republic, along with other public organizations, actively participate in spiritual and educational work, make a significant contribution to improving the spirituality of society, forming strong beliefs among young people based on patriotism, as well as interfaith and interethnic tolerance.

It should be noted that religious policy in Uzbekistan is based on the principles of the secular nature of the state, tolerant and equal treatment of all religions. Representatives of various nations and ethnic groups professing islam, christianity, buddhism, judaism and other religions carry out their activities in the republic on equal terms.

All conditions have been created for adherents of each denomination to freely and unhindered practice their religion.

Believers pray freely in mosques, churches, synagogues, observe fasting, and also make pilgrimages. Religious organizations have the right to own territories, publish literature, train their religious ministers, and organize pilgrimages to sacred sites.

The freedom of religion guaranteed by the national legislation of Uzbekistan has created all the necessary conditions to meet the religious needs of all citizens representing 138 national and ethnic groups.

Representatives of different faiths freely celebrate all religious holidays. Thus, Eid al-Adha and Ramadan hayit are celebrated on an increasing scale by muslims, Easter and Christmas by christians, Passover, Purim and Hanukkah by jews, Nowruz by Baha'is, as well as celebrations dedicated to Buddha and Krishna and other major events.

Believers make pilgrimages to holy places: muslims go to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj and Umrah rituals, christians to Russia, Greece and Israel, and jews to Israel.

Over the years of independence, about 430 thousand muslims have made pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia, including 158 thousand for Hajj and 272 thousand for Umrah, and more than 2.9 thousand christians and jews have visited religious shrines in Israel, Russia, Turkey, Italy, Georgia, and Greece.

To meet the spiritual needs of society, a large number of religious literature of various orientations is published annually. To fully cover the religious life of Uzbekistan, a number of newspapers and magazines are published, including the newspapers "Islom nuri", "Word of life", "Hidoyat" and "East from above".

Today, Uzbekistan systematically implements a set of measures to protect the population from the negative impact of destructive ideas reflecting radical extremist ideology and religious fanaticism.

An important step in this direction was the application of acts of pardon. In particular, since 2017, 27 decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been adopted on pardoning persons who have committed crimes.

It should be noted that in recent years, as part of a consistent policy in Uzbekistan in the field of protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, special attention has been paid to measures aimed at protecting the rights, freedoms, honor and dignity of not only citizens living in the republic, but also our fellow citizens who find themselves in difficult situations in foreign countries..

Unfortunately, some of our citizens, who fell under the influence of alien ideas and believed false promises, joined the ranks of international terrorist organizations in armed conflict zones abroad over the years. The spouses and fathers of some of the women returned as part of humanitarian operations were killed in armed clashes.

Taking this into account, on behalf of the President of Uzbekistan, five humanitarian actions "Mehr" were successfully conducted in 2019-2021, during which more than 500 citizens of the republic, mostly women and children, were returned to their homeland from armed conflict zones in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

In order to further facilitate their early reintegration and rehabilitation, a set of measures has been implemented at the state level to provide timely medical, psychological, material and moral assistance. To date, all repatriates have been provided with the necessary conditions for their adaptation to peaceful life and integration into society, and access to educational and other social programs has been provided, including through housing and employment.

The Uzbek authorities are focusing on establishing a constructive dialogue and cooperation with international organizations and experts in the religious field.

During the visits to Uzbekistan of the UN High Commissioner for Human rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein and OSCE High commissioner for national minorities Lamberto Zannier, the current state of affairs was discussed, the reforms in our country were highly appreciated, it was noted that Uzbekistan pays special attention to ensuring interethnic harmony and religious tolerance, strengthening friendship between representatives of various nations and nationalities.

Following the visit to Uzbekistan of the UN Special rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, Ahmed Shahid, a separate document was adopted on the implementation of a set of measures in the field of religion.

The Special rapporteur noted the progress made in simplifying the procedures for registering and operating religious organizations, as well as improving the religious education system in the country.

The UN representative welcomed the interaction of the uzbek authorities with the OSCE Office for democratic institutions and human rights and stressed their interest in promoting reforms in the field of religious freedom protection in the country.

In general, it is worth noting that an important distinguishing feature of the religious life of modern Uzbekistan is the inadmissibility of establishing advantages or restrictions for one religion in relation to other faiths.

One of the main priorities of reforming society in order to ensure interethnic harmony and religious tolerance is to ensure and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, their equality before the law, regardless of race, gender, nationality, language, social origin, beliefs, religion, personal and social status, which are enshrined in the Constitution of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan consistently and strictly fulfills its international obligations in the field of ensuring religious freedoms within the framework of international human rights treaties.

As you know, Uzbekistan has now joined more than 70 major international human rights instruments. The accession to these documents contributed to the creation of an effective human rights protection system in Uzbekistan.

It is important that Uzbekistan's religious policy, aimed at strengthening interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance in society, is an important factor for stability and security.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the large-scale reforms being implemented in the country are a clear confirmation of the consistent continuation by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of the implementation of the principle of "Everything for the sake of man, for the sake of his future".

 

Committee on religious affairs