Uzbekistan will hold a nationwide discussion on the country's religious policy concept.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan has presented a draft Concept for State Policy on Ensuring Freedom of Conscience for Citizens and in the Religious Sphere for public discussion. This document, grounded in historical experience and universal values, aims to specify the principles of state secularism and create conditions for the further development of the country.

The Concept outlines strategic goals, tasks, foundational principles, and priority directions of state policy in the religious sphere. It is aimed at the practical implementation of constitutional norms regarding freedom of conscience and the secular nature of the state in Uzbekistan's multinational and multi-confessional society. The document emphasizes the importance of democracy, secularism, freedom, equality, social justice, and national unity as the foundation for development.

According to the updated Constitution, Uzbekistan is a secular state that guarantees freedom of conscience to every citizen. The Concept acknowledges the significance of religious values as an integral part of the cultural heritage, traditions, and moral foundations of the Uzbek people. It highlights the role of religious faith, tolerance, and the humanitarian essence of religions in strengthening social unity and forming harmonious relationships within society. The document particularly notes that freedom of conscience can be fully realized only in a secular state, which creates a favorable environment for the respect and harmonious development of religious values and beliefs.

The Concept provides definitions for key terms such as freedom of conscience, secularism, secular state, secular values, and public interests. It also examines the historical context and current state of ensuring freedom of conscience in Uzbekistan, starting from the adoption of the law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations in 1991 and the Constitution in 1992. The document analyzes challenges related to the activation of radical and extremist groups and emphasizes the importance of measures taken in 1998 to counter these threats.

The Concept sheds light on the government's efforts to ensure religious freedom and interfaith harmony after 2017, including the reconstruction of religious sites, increasing the quota for hajj, developing religious education, and establishing a Council on Religious Affairs. Special attention is given to the social adaptation of individuals influenced by banned organizations and the repatriation of citizens from conflict zones. The role of research centers, such as the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan and the centers named after Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, and Imam Tirmidhi, in studying religious heritage and countering religious prejudices is emphasized.

The document identifies existing challenges and risks, including attempts to impose religious norms in social relations, doubts about gender equality, refusal of civic duties for religious reasons, and incomplete understanding of secular principles by some public officials. The influence of globalization and migration on the spread of radical ideas is noted.

The Concept formulates goals, tasks, and principles of state policy in the religious sphere. Key tasks include ensuring equality for citizens regardless of their religious affiliation, strengthening interfaith harmony, and combating radicalization and extremism. Principles include legality, freedom of conscience, separation of religion from the state, equality, freedom of thought and expression, dialogue, and mutual understanding.

Proposed implementation mechanisms include coordinating the interaction between state bodies and religious organizations, training specialists in religious studies, measures to counter religious radicalization, and ensuring information security.

The Concept defines conditions for a harmonious combination of freedom of conscience and public interests, emphasizing the inadmissibility of using religion for political purposes. It also outlines priority areas for the development of a secular state in various fields, including public administration, economy, education, healthcare, culture, marital relations, and social norms of morality.

As a result of implementing the Concept, it is expected that the rule of law will be strengthened, social cohesion will increase, legislation on secularism will be improved, and the system for training specialists in religious matters will develop.

Responsibility for implementing the Concept rests with the government of Uzbekistan, state bodies, organizations, local authorities, public organizations, religious associations, media, research institutions, and citizens. A parliamentary commission will be established to monitor compliance with the implementation.