5 July 2021
Felix Corley, Forum 18, and Mushfig Bayram, Forum 18
Uzbekistan s new Religion Law – now with the President for signature - maintains almost all the restrictions on freedom of religion and belief in the current Religion Law. It continues to ban: all exercise of freedom of religion and belief without state permission; teaching about religion without state permission; sharing beliefs; and publishing, distributing or importing printed and electronic religious materials which have not undergone compulsory prior state censorship. The continuing restrictions are in defiance of Uzbekistan s legally binding international human rights obligations.
Uzbekistan s new Religion Law maintains almost all the restrictions on freedom of religion and belief in the current Religion Law, Forum 18 notes. The new Law – which officials have been working on since at least 2015 - completed passage in Parliament on 26 June and is now awaiting presidential signature into law.