Uzbekistan’s Religious Freedom Progress in Jeopardy

Uzbekistan‘s Backsliding on Religious Freedom Raises Concerns

The government of Uzbekistan is reportedly restricting religious freedom and continues to arrest and prosecute Muslims on charges of extremism, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). The government’s claims promising to eliminate restrictions on religious freedoms seem to indicate partial adherence to international human rights law. The situation in Uzbekistan is of great concern, given that the government arrests protesters and opposition figures and strictly controls the press. In contrast, the government of Shavkat Mirziyoyev was viewed initially by many groups and countries as a reformer who would liberalize the country’s political and economic practices. The government has now become a symbol of how reform can reverse on political freedoms and civil rights.

Senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, Mihra Rittmann, criticized the Uzbek government and argued that their language treats religious freedom as a right and not as privilege. HRW called on Uzbekistan‘s international partners to urge the government to uphold religious freedoms. Moreover, the organization recommended that Uzbek authorities protect the right to religious expression, to ensure that Muslims can maintain their religious views peacefully.

Restrictions on Religious Practices

Activists and human rights organizations are up in arms about the 2021 religion law. The new law replaced the 1998 religion law but still retains aspects that violate international human rights law. Human Rights Watch documented several cases in which individuals were unnecessarily prevented from registering their religious communities. The law claims to streamline the registration process, but the Uzbek government continues to hinder the registration of religious groups unnecessarily.

Moreover, several Muslims have reportedly been arrested because of their religious beliefs’ nonviolent expression, which is a violation of their freedom of religion, association, and expression. Human Rights Watch documented cases where Muslims were charged with storing and sharing extreme religious content, including songs and “nasheeds,” which are a type of religious song, on their phones or social media accounts. Uzbek authorities claim that these provisions are consistent with international standards, but the United Nations has repeatedly expressed concern that the provisions are overly broad.

The Role of Uzbekistan‘s International Partners

International organizations and countries can play a crucial role in urge Uzbekistan to uphold religious freedoms. Human Rights Watch called on Uzbekistan‘s international partners to encourage the government to introduce reforms to protect religious freedoms fully. However, Uzbekistan‘s international partners have so far been hesitant to criticize the country for its deteriorating human rights situation. The US State Department’s Special Watch List reinstates Uzbekistan on the list of countries that are suppress religious freedom. However, this seems to have had little impact on the Uzbek government’s behavior.

Conclusion

Uzbekistan‘s government’s recent trends have raised significant concern among human rights defenders, especially concerning freedom of religion and expression. The Uzbek government needs to implement reforms at the earliest opportunity to ensure that peaceful religious communities and individuals feel safe in practicing their faith and expressing their beliefs. The international community should speak out and hold the Uzbek government accountable for their failure to meet their human rights obligations.

Mosque.-Uzbekistan,ReligiousFreedom,Progress,Jeopardy