Uzbekistan is a land that celebrates peace, tranquility and stability

Currently, Uzbekistan clearly shows the country’s entry into a completely new stage of development, which is confirmed by large-scale reforms carried out in all areas. Profound transformations in domestic and foreign policy, socio-economic life, cultural and spiritual-educational fields are reflected in the way of life of our people.

On the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and on the basis of the unity of the people, the Strategy “Uzbekistan - 2030” was adopted, which became a solid legal and practical basis for the renewal of the country. The implementation of this program creates conditions for improving the well-being of the population, ensuring sustainable development of the state and society.

In recent years, our country has paid special attention to strengthening the atmosphere of mutual respect, solidarity and cooperation between different religious faiths, maintaining intercultural dialogue, ensuring peace and harmony, which has received wide support from the international community.

It is noteworthy that on September 19, 2017 in In New York, at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward an initiative, which found its practical implementation in the adoption of a special resolution “Enlightenment and religious tolerance” at the regular session of the UN General Assembly in 2018. The draft document prepared by Uzbekistan was unanimously approved by all UN member states.

This resolution acquired particular significance, as it highlighted the issues of education and upbringing as an effective means of countering global threats - extremism and terrorism, especially in the context of growing intolerance and irreconcilable attitudes towards representatives of different religions and beliefs.

As a logical continuation of this work, the international forum “Dialogue of Declarations” was held in 2022 with the aim of implementing the principles and provisions of the resolution “Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance”, as well as achieving the goals of the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights, approved in 2020.

The main result of the meeting was the adoption The “Bukhara Declaration”, which supplemented the previously adopted declarations in Morocco, Mecca, Jakarta, Potomac and Punta del Este. This document has become an important contribution of Uzbekistan to strengthening the ideas of religious tolerance and interethnic harmony in the international arena.

It is important to note that this dialogue has become regular: from September 10 to 13 of this year, the second international forum “Dialogue of Declarations” is planned to be held in Tashkent and Samarkand.

This forum is an integral part of the efforts of the world community to ensure freedom of religion and strengthen interreligious dialogue, as well as an expression of Uzbekistan’s readiness to actively promote in the international arena its commitment to international obligations in the field of human rights and freedoms.

It should be emphasized that in conditions when natural human rights - to life, education, work, self-realization and freedom of religion - are violated in various regions of the world, in Uzbekistan representatives of more 130 nationalities and 16 faiths live peacefully based on the principle of tolerance. The possibility of free and safe performance of religious rites by representatives of various nations and confessions is the most important factor in the stability of society.

Today, 2,373 religious organizations are registered in Uzbekistan, of which 2,174 are Islamic and 199 are non-Islamic. Over the past eight years, 130 religious organizations have been registered in the republic, including 3 higher and 1 specialized secondary Islamic educational institution, 105 mosques and 25 non-Islamic organizations of various faiths.

The legal basis for these transformations is the Concept of state policy in the religious sphere and ensuring freedom of conscience of citizens, approved by Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 1037 dated February 25, 2025.

The concept enshrines the right to freedom of conscience, the constitutional principle of the secular nature of the state, defines the goals, objectives, principles and priority directions of state policy in the religious sphere. It was developed taking into account the rich national-historical experience of statehood and universal human values, and is aimed at providing a stable environment for the progressive development of the multi-religious and multinational society of Uzbekistan on the basis of democracy, secularism, freedom, equality, social justice and solidarity.

In a short period of time, scientific and educational institutions such as the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, international research centers named Imam Bukhari, Imam Moturidi, Imam Termizi, Bahauddin Naqshbandi, the International Islamic Studies Academy of Uzbekistan, the School of Hadith Studies in Samarkand and the Mir Arab Higher Madrasah in Bukhara.

These institutions make a significant contribution to the formation of a healthy spiritual environment in society, educating young people as modern-minded individuals worthy heirs of great ancestors, which corresponds to the noble universal idea of “Enlightenment against ignorance.”

If in 2017 there were only 3 higher (1 Islamic and 2 non-Islamic) and 9 secondary specialized religious educational institutions in the country, today their total number has reached 16, of which 6 are higher.

To further develop this area and bring it to a new level, the Presidential Decree “On measures to further strengthen guarantees of law” was signed citizens to freedom of conscience and bringing reforms in the spiritual and educational sphere to a new stage.” This document was received with approval not only by representatives of the religious and educational sphere, but also by the general public.

It should be noted that in recent years, anniversaries and events of not only Islamic, but also non-Islamic denominations have been held at a high level: the 145th anniversary (2017) and the 150th anniversary (2021) of the Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in Tashkent and Uzbekistan, the 120th anniversary of the Armenian Apostolic Church (2023), the 25th anniversary (2018) and 30th anniversary (2023) of the Bible Society of Uzbekistan, the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh (2017), the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab (2019) and 100th anniversary of the death of 'Abdu'l-Bahá (2022). These events are a shining example of peace and tolerance in our country.

Along with this, much attention is paid to organizing pilgrimages of representatives of various religions abroad. In particular, about 500 thousand citizens performed Hajj and Umrah, more than 10 thousand people visited holy places in Israel, Russia, Georgia, Turkey and other countries.

In conclusion, it should be noted that Uzbekistan has been an integral part of the Great Silk Road for thousands of years and has made a worthy contribution to the development of world civilization. Trade, economic, scientific and cultural centers have always flourished here, and the tolerance, hospitality and respect for representatives of different cultures inherent in our people have been the main factors of progress.

Today in Uzbekistan, the traditions and customs of various peoples are developing in harmony. A consistent policy in the religious and educational sphere, pursued under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, serves as a solid basis for ensuring peace, stability and harmony not only in our country, but throughout the world.

The wide participation of representatives of different countries in the upcoming second international forum “Dialogue of Declarations” is evidence of the high international assessment of Uzbekistan’s state policy in the field of ensuring freedom religion and interfaith harmony.

Davronbek Maksudov,

First Deputy Chairman
Committee for Religious Affairs of Uzbekistan