Uzbekistan’s experience in ensuring interfaith harmony as a key element in maintaining peace and stability
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In the modern world, geopolitical tensions and bloc confrontation are increasing and often escalate into value and ideological conflicts. Inter-confessional harmony is being undermined and social polarization is increasing. As a result of political and economic instability and distorted perceptions of other cultures and faiths, religious violence is escalating in some parts of the world.
At the same time, analysts argue that the main reason for the problem of growing religiously motivated violence in the world is lack of understanding and respect between people of different faiths, as well as lack of knowledge about beliefs, stereotyping and biased thinking. about beliefs, stereotyping and biased thinking. In an era of misinformation, when inaccurate information is spread at an incredible speed, this only exacerbates the situation, creating favorable conditions for increasing interfaith mistrust and deepening social and political divisions.
Another reason for the increase in religious violence may be ineffective religious freedom policies. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, N. Ganea, “in many states, people and communities are deprived of fundamental rights to their identity in the field of religion or belief from the moment of birth”.
In the context of such instability, maintaining an open and constructive dialogue between different religious and cultural groups becomes a vital resource for maintaining peace and stability. Open and free discussion of interfaith and interethnic disagreements, the search for common paths to cooperation, minimizes the likelihood of confrontation. Only the joint work of representatives of different religions and cultures is the key towards peaceful coexistence in a multicultural world.
Against this backdrop, the United Nations in 2019 decided to designate 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief which raises global awareness of religious intolerance, violence and belief-based discrimination.
Experts believe that to ensure interfaith harmony and eradicate religious intolerance, it is necessary to establish dialogue between different faiths, as well as encourage mutual understanding and respect. At the same time, sharing knowledge about each other’s beliefs and launching common programs aimed at solving public problems can be important factors in strengthening interfaith harmony.
In this context, it is important to note the experience of Uzbekistan, which is home to representatives of more than 130 nations and 16 confessions, in ensuring inter-confessional harmony in society is considered to be one of the most recognized in the world. It should be emphasized that numerous peoples of different religions have peacefully coexisted in our country for centuries. Our ancestors have always respected representatives of other faiths and worked side by side with them for the good of the country. It is noteworthy that in the history of our state there are no cases describing confrontations and conflicts on religious grounds.
Maintaining the tradition of friendliness and tolerance, Uzbekistan has implemented a number of reforms in this direction in recent years.
Firstly, it is notable that from the first years of independence, it was the state that assumed responsibility for ensuring inter-confessional harmony and maintaining a balance of interests in society. At the same time, today in the country the issues of ensuring effective religious policy have been brought to a new level.
In particular, since 2016, thanks to the political will of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, there has been a fundamental shift in the very essence of the policy in the field of religion and critically analyzed the experience of past years. In the course of the transformation, special emphasis has been placed on education, ensuring religious freedoms, expanding the rights of believers and a new approach to combating extremism.
As a result, the emphasis is currently placed not on forceful methods of solving problems, but on eliminating the causes that determine the spread of extremism and terrorism, as well as on preventive measures.
An important step was the significant strengthening of the legislative basis of state policy in the religious sphere and ensuring freedom of religion. In 2021, the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” was adopted in a new edition, during the preparation of which international norms and requirements in this area were carefully studied and taken into account. The law clearly regulates the rights and obligations of citizens, and it also strengthens legal guarantees for ensuring freedom of conscience and religion.
In particular, the registration procedure has been simplified and termination of the activities of religious organizations, and the ban on appearing in public places in religious attire was lifted and etc.
At the same time, the updated version of the Constitution, adopted in 2023, enshrined the principles of secularism and the prohibition of the imposition of any religion. At the same time, the Basic Law laid the foundations of a secular state as the most optimal model for maintaining harmony in society.