OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
MAY 12, 2021
Executive Summary
The constitution provides for freedom of religion or belief and separation of government and religion. Throughout the year, the government consulted with international legal scholars regarding draft updates to the law on religion, and on August 6, it officially requested a joint opinion from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. On October 12, the OSCE end Venice Commission issued their joint opinion, stating that while the draft provided some improved protections, it also allowed the government to maintain strict and excessive control over religion and religious freedom. It also stated, “The Draft Law should be substantially revised in order to ensure its full compliance with international human rights standards and OSCE human dimension commitments.” At year’s end, the draft remained under discussion in parliament. The government
28 April 2021
Felix Corley, Forum 18
Azerbaijan s military blocked Armenian pilgrims visiting Dadivank Monastery for Sunday worship on 25 April and the ordination of a priest. The monastery is in territory returned to Azerbaijani control after 2020 fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian peace keepers accompany pilgrims to Dadivank, but They too were surprised by the sudden denial of access, says Nagorno-Karabakh s Ombudsperson, Gegham Stepanyan. The ordination had to be moved to another monastery. Azerbaijan s Defence Ministry has not responded on why it blocked access to Dadivank.
On 25 April Azerbaijani military forces blocked Armenian Apostolic Church pilgrims access to the Dadivank Monastery. The Monastery is in territory now held by Azerbaijan, where the ordination of Deacon Manvel Sargsyan to the priesthood was due to take place that Sunday. Russian peace keepers accompanied the pilgrims to another monastery in the ethnic Armenian-controlled unrecognised entity of Nagorn
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New mosque opens in Tashkent SOCIETY 10:21 / 05.03.2021 2131
According to mosque officials, the 2,000-square-meter project is based on a combination of national and modern styles and can accommodate about 4,500 worshipers. There is a separate ablution room and a prayer room for women.
The main building of the mosque consists of two floors. In addition, there is a basement and a conference hall.
Construction of the mosque began in 2019 and lasted for two years with the help of sponsors through hashar (voluntary work).
According to the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, the Siroj Solih mosque was initially constructed in the 1990s using the funds left by a citizen named Sirojiddin Salih, who was forced to leave the country as a result of Soviet-era repression.
4 March 2021 14:09 Share in:
TASHKENT. KAZINFORM - On March 3, 2021, in Tashkent, Chairman of the Board of the N. Nazarbayev Center for the Development of Interfaith and Intercivilization Dialogue Bulat Sarsenbayev and Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shoazim Minovarov signed a memorandum of mutual cooperation, Kazinform has learnt from the N. Nazarbayev Centeres press service. Related news The purpose of concluding the memorandum is the implementation of interaction in the field of intercivilizational and interfaith dialogue, the development of the principles of tolerance and harmony.
The parties reached an agreement on the mutual exchange of experience and practice in the development of interreligious dialogue, as well as the organization of meetings, events, forums and summits on the territory of the two states on issues of mutual interest.