As a country that has restricted religious freedom since its Soviet days, Uzbekistan now plans to increase punishment for those who express their religious beliefs. The proposal released by the Religious Affairs Committee threatens a fine of 200 to 600 times the monthly minimum wage (which is about US $10) for anyone who shares their beliefs outside of their religious communities. Repeat offenders could face three to eight years in prison along with the leader of their religious community. (03-NOV-06)
Daniel Steilen reports for Index on Censorship
Article 5 of the Religion Law reads: “Actions aimed at turning believers from one faith to another (proselytism) are forbidden, as is any other form of missionary activity.” Yet Uzbek state law appears to go against international agreements. “The proposals to fine and jail people for the sharing of beliefs outside places of worship is in direct opposition to Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which Uzbekistan is committed to through its UN membership, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the country ratified in 1995,” said Forum 18.
-A gas mask was put on me and the air supply cut off
This proposal only marks the future of a county that is continually cracking down on religious minorities. The state controls the main Islamic sect. All other sects and religions face serious restrictions. If worshipers do not gather in a place registered with the government, then they are acting illegally. Protestants in particular have been targeted in recent months. Forum 18 reported that a summer camp near Termez in the south of the country was raided by police on 24 August. The police detained 20 protestants, and some were held for several days and subjugated to torture. “I was taken to a separate room and ordered to undress and kneel,” said Vitaly Suvorov, a Protestant from the Termez suburb of Jarkurgan after his release on 25 August. “A gas mask was put on me and the air supply cut off. The police swore unrestrainedly at us and forced us to confess that we had been holding an unlawful meeting.”
Baptists and Pentecostals among chief targets
Baptists and Pentecostals have been the denominations most targeted. In July, 600 leaflets were confiscated and destroyed from Baptists with aims to distribute them among children. They were not cleared with officials before they were imported into the country as required. Based on information gathered from Protestant sources, Forum 18 reports that the government has recently issued a ban preventing Pentecostals from preaching in Uzbek. However, it currently appears that other faiths and denominations are not affected by this ban.The situation with the Catholics is slightly different. “Forum 18 has established that unlike the Protestants, Catholics generally are not having difficulties with the authorities. One possible explanation for this is that the Catholic Church is not engaged in missionary activity and does not use Uzbek when preaching,” said the religious freedom organization. Perhaps under even more intolerance are the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who had registration stripped in August from one of their two communities allowed to operate in the country. Forum 18 reports that at least three Jehovah’s Witnesses have been charged under Article 5 since May 2005.
Independent Muslims treated as terrorists
Even Muslims who do not adhere to the state brand of the religion must be careful in expressing their religion in public. All independent Muslims are deemed “Wahhabis” by the government, who punish them in the name of the war on terror. Muslims, as well as other religions, are banned from wearing religious clothing in public. All religious education institutions are state run. “The most serious problem over the last few years in Uzbekistan has been inappropriate arrest of some Muslims who are simply observant, maybe praying five times a day, perhaps they have a beard, and just on the basis of these outward signs are suspected of having terrorist ties. And in some cases, these people have been horribly treated,” said US Ambassador John Hanford in a Voices of America report. It is somewhat easier to understand why religious freedom is restricted when considered in light of the fact that President Islam Karimov came to power as a Communist in the Soviet era — and remains a leader in an era where Islamic terrorism is an international concern. He sees Islam as a part of the cultural identity which holds Uzbekistan together. But he opposes the establishment of an Islamic state and detests the “extremist” groups who would seek to establish such a state through a jihad , such as occurred in Afghanistan.
-US policy in Central Asia shows no concern for the welfare of Uzbeks
“It should be noted that many Uzbeks agree with him and feel that his strong rule is necessary to ward off the instability and bloodshed which have ravaged neighboring countries,” explains the International Coalition for Religious Freedom. Uzbekistan, because of its location, is seen as a key ally in the war on terrorism. Some critics, such as Craig Murray, former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, have asserted that this is the reason why human rights violations in the country have largely been ignored by the West. “US policy in Central Asia shows no concern at all for the welfare of the inhabitants of Uzbekistan and doesn’t do any more than pay lip service to the need for fundamental freedoms,” said Murray (Index on Censorship , 1/2005).
Religious-affiliated charities kicked out
Even foreign charities with religious affiliations are barred from working in the country; about a dozen of them were shut down this year, some of which, such as Central Asian Free Exchange (CAFE), said they were doing general aid work that was not religiously oriented. Mother Teresa´s Missionaries of Charity and Hungarian Interchurch Aid are among those who remain allowed to operate, for now.
