The Parliament of Uzbekistan has developed a Concept for Guaranteeing Freedom of Belief for Citizens and a State Strategy in the Field of Religion, reports the web portal of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.
"At the same time, there are cases of attempts to introduce rules characteristic of certain religions into public relations regulated by law, which call into question the equality of men and women, refusal to fulfill civic duties, denial of public ethics, as well as national and universal values," states the draft Concept.
It is noted that more than 2,300 religious organizations representing 16 different faiths operate in Uzbekistan. The country is home to representatives of over 130 nationalities, with education available in seven languages, television programs broadcast in twelve languages, newspapers and magazines published in fourteen languages, and 155 national cultural centers in operation.
The document emphasizes that full control over factors contributing to radicalization remains significantly limited. The reason for this is open access to social networks due to the globalization of the information space, as well as the active participation of young people in migration processes.
Based on this, the document clearly defines the goals of state policy in the field of religion. The key directions of this policy will be: ensuring freedom and equality of citizens before the law, creating equal legal conditions for active civic participation in public life, and emphasizing secularism in accordance with constitutional norms.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 4, 2025