President Mirziyoyev signs law “On freedom of conscience and religious organizations”

Officials say the purpose of the law is to strengthen guarantees of freedom of conscience, reinforce legal mechanisms to ensure the right of everyone to believe in any religion or not to believe in any religion, as well as improve the state’s policy on religious affairs.

Reportedly, since the project was announced (in August 2020), more than 700 proposals have been received from the general public, international organizations and local experts. The draft was also widely discussed in committee and party factions. Deputies in the new bill removed one of the problems plaguing the population – the ban on citizens walking in public places in prayer clothes.

In addition, the requirement for religious educators to obtain special approval from the central body, the procedure for submitting notarized documents for registration of a religious organization, and the requirement to obtain the consent of mahallas in establishing a religious organization have been abolished.

The procedure for registering religious organizations is also being simplified:

- the number of initiators for the establishment of a religious organization is reduced from 100 to 50;
- the right to appeal to the judiciary within 6 months (in practice 3 months) after the meeting on the establishment of a religious organization is strengthened;
- the number of documents to be submitted is decreasing;
- registration services are being introduced in full electronic form;
- the period of consideration of documents submitted for the registration of a religious organization is changed from 3 months to 1 month;
- the grounds for refusal of registration are clearly defined.

However, the new law also confines restrictions on private religious education. This led to protests by public activists and religious scholars.

Many international organizations have also called for the law to be seriously reviewed to ensure that it fully complies with international human rights standards and Uzbekistan’s human rights obligations to the OSCE.

It should be recalled that the law was adopted by deputies of the Legislative Chamber on May 4 and by the Senate on June 26.

The Law of Uzbekistan “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” has come into force on the day of its official publication in the press.