Jun 08

WHEN:

Jun 8th 10:00am - Jun 8th 11:00am

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

USCIRF Conversation: Evaluating Religious Freedom in Uzbekistan

Thursday, June 8, 2023
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM ET
Virtual Event

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hosted a virtual event that evaluated shifting religious freedom conditions in Uzbekistan.

Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has taken noticeable steps to improve conditions for religious freedom in the country and to engage with international partners, including the U.S. government, on ways to further protect and promote this fundamental freedom. Despite this progress, however, USCIRF has documented the continuation of several problematic practices, such as the regular detention, arrest, and imprisonment of Muslims related to their religious activities. In recent months, authorities have fined or sentenced Muslim bloggers for online comments that express their religious views and raided an unregistered Baptist church in the midst of conducting Easter services. Uzbekistan has also continued to imprison an estimated two thousand religious prisoners of conscience, whom authorities have reportedly ill-treated, prevented from fasting during Ramadan, and subjected to additional pressure even after their release. This conversation examined ongoing and emerging concerns related to freedom of religion or belief in Uzbekistan.

USCIRF Commissioners Nury Turkel and David Curry joined guest panelists Ahmed Shaheed and Mihra Rittmann. USCIRF Supervisory Policy Analyst Keely Bakken moderated the conversation, which was followed by questions and answers, including questions from the audience. 

Panelists

  • Nury Turkel, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • David Curry, Commissioner, USCIRF
  • Ahmed Shaheed, Professor of International Human Rights Law in the School of Law and Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
  • Mihra Rittmann, Senior Researcher on Central Asia at Human Rights Watch

Moderator

  • Keely Bakken, Supervisory Policy Analyst, USCIRF

This virtual event is open to the public and media. The video recording will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].