USCIRF Releases Report on the Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia

USCIRF Releases Report on the Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report:

The Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia – Central Asian governments’ legislation, including extremism laws, has been influenced by decades of Soviet rule of the region. When the governments of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan enforce extremism laws, they regularly go beyond using the legislation to address legitimate security threats and penalize individuals engaged in peaceful religious activities. While all states have an obligation to protect individuals from extremism-motivated violence and incitement to violence, they also are required to uphold other human rights enshrined under international law. Despite this, each Central Asian state enforces extremism laws in ways that fail to uphold the human right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).

USCIRF has documented the abuse of extremism laws in Central Asia to target peaceful religious practices in its Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List and country updates on Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].