The Committee on Religious Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan

 

In today’s rapidly changing world, where information flows influence people’s thinking and worldview more powerfully than ever before, ensuring the security and stability of society cannot be confined to legal or administrative measures alone.

Indeed, the roots of ignorance are often associated with a lack of knowledge, a narrow outlook, an inability to analyse information critically, difficulty distinguishing unreliable sources from credible ones, and a failure to understand the nature of social problems and destructive ideas.

From this perspective, the idea of “Enlightenment Against Ignorance” is not merely a slogan. It is a comprehensive approach aimed at equipping people with knowledge, independent thinking, legal and media literacy, respect for national and universal values, tolerance, and the ability to make informed choices.

The substance of the reforms being implemented in the religious and educational sphere of our country is likewise aligned with this approach. The process can provisionally be viewed through six closely interconnected areas: legal guarantees; enlightenment and education; scientific research; prevention; interfaith tolerance; and engagement with the modern information environment.

The combination of these factors defines the distinctive features of the religious and educational approach taking shape in New Uzbekistan. The first prerequisite for reforms in this sphere is the protection of freedom of conscience. Respect for a person’s beliefs and the existence of legal guarantees enabling individuals to make free decisions concerning their religious views are important characteristics of an enlightened and tolerant society.

The legal framework in this area has been progressively improved in our country. In particular, the adoption of a new version of the Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations” further strengthened the legal basis for regulating relations in this sphere in line with contemporary requirements.

A comprehensive approach to improving the religious and educational sphere has emerged, and an integrated system encompassing its legal, institutional and scientific foundations has gradually taken shape. This demonstrates that work in this area is being organised on a systematic basis rather than merely in response to individual problems.

Our ancestors valued knowledge as an important driver of human and societal development. In this respect, today’s approach to enlightenment can be regarded as a modern continuation of the traditions of knowledge and learning embedded in our historical heritage.

On 19 September 2017, at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Uzbekistan stated: “We resolutely condemn those who equate our sacred religion with violence and bloodshed, and we can never compromise with them.”

This approach expresses an important principle: combating violence and destructive ideas must involve not only decisive legal measures, but also addressing the social and educational factors that create conditions for their spread.

One of the major practical manifestations of the approach to enlightenment in New Uzbekistan is the Centre for Islamic Civilisation. Its significance cannot be fully understood if it is viewed merely as a complex showcasing historical heritage. One of the Centre’s key objectives is to conduct in-depth research into the scholarly, religious and cultural heritage that developed in our land, bring it into contemporary academic discourse, present it to the international community, and connect it closely with pressing issues of the present day.

In this sense, the opening of the Centre is not only an important historical event but also an expression of a new approach to historical heritage. Of particular importance is the task of transforming our ancestors’ traditions of seeking knowledge, research and humanism into the intellectual potential of the present generation. The Centre is both a symbolic and a practical expression of the large-scale enlightenment reforms underway in New Uzbekistan.

Ambitious objectives also underpin the establishment of international research centres named after Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, Imam Tirmidhi and Bahauddin Naqshband. Their work is not limited to preserving our rich historical heritage. Today, their core tasks include researching rare manuscripts and sources, incorporating them into academic discourse, and studying them in accordance with contemporary needs. This process is helping to elevate international scientific cooperation to a new level while fostering strong research schools in our country.

These centres play a dual role: they deepen the study of our historical and religious heritage while also preparing reliable scholarly resources for society. The books, academic works and popular publications issued by the centres today provide clear evidence of this contribution.

Reforms in the religious and educational sphere cannot be considered separately from the education system. The introduction of postgraduate master’s programmes in higher religious education, together with the modernisation of curricula, is an important part of this process.

The revision of subject curricula taught at religious educational institutions and the development of a new generation of textbooks also demonstrate that the requirements for training religious specialists are evolving.

Today, religious specialists must not be limited to knowledge of religious sources. They need to be legally literate, understand the modern information environment, communicate effectively with young people, comprehend social processes in depth, and provide evidence-based answers to a range of questions.

The improvement of the retraining and professional development system for imams and preachers, alongside the introduction of specialised modules in legal and socio-political subjects, represents an important aspect of positive qualitative change in this field.

When people can think independently, assess information critically and compare evidence, they become less vulnerable to false information and manipulative ideas.

It is therefore essential that people can distinguish reliable sources from unreliable ones, assess information critically, compare different viewpoints, understand their rights and responsibilities, respect people of other beliefs, and feel accountable for the decisions they make. These skills, taken together, further strengthen society’s spiritual and intellectual resilience.

Today, religious and educational outreach is organised closer to mahallas, educational institutions, workplaces and young people. The specific characteristics of each region and the needs of local communities are fully taken into account. Information literacy may be a pressing issue in one area, while engagement with young people or family and social matters may be a priority in another.

Enlightenment activities are not organised according to a single template; rather, they are designed with due regard to the characteristics of the audience and the locality. This makes it possible to adapt their content and format to real local needs and increase their practical impact.

The content and format of work in the religious and educational sphere are also being adapted to the needs of modern audiences. In particular, engagement with young people places priority not only on prepared lectures but also on open dialogue, questions and answers, the exchange of views, and approaches that encourage conclusions based on evidence.

Such events create opportunities for participants to express their views, ask questions and discuss different perspectives. Accordingly, the effectiveness of enlightenment activities is assessed not only by their reach or the number of participants, but also by the level of knowledge, attitudes and skills they help develop.

As young people receive information primarily through the internet and social media, the importance of digital content in the religious and educational sphere continues to grow. Accordingly, the use of digital platforms and social networks to distribute educational and enlightenment content is expanding.

The main focus in this process is not on the quantity of content, but on its quality, clarity and relevance to the needs of specific audiences. In today’s information environment, the impact of enlightenment content depends not only on how widely it is disseminated, but also on how accurately and reliably it informs people.

The information vacuum on the internet will inevitably be filled by someone. If reliable, evidence-based and educational content is insufficient, the space for misleading interpretations may expand. In this sense, enlightenment must be present wherever the audience is.

Reforms in the religious and educational sphere cannot be separated from efforts to foster interfaith harmony and mutual respect. In a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional society, the peaceful coexistence of people of different faiths on the basis of mutual respect and solidarity is one of the key factors in social stability.

In this regard, the work of the Council for Religious Affairs among Confessions is being improved, regional mechanisms are being developed, and consistent efforts are being made to expand dialogue and cooperation among different confessions.

Tolerance is a culture of respecting another person’s rights, beliefs and views. In this respect, the practice of holding anniversary, cultural, educational and other public events involving different religious confessions demonstrates that mechanisms for interfaith dialogue and cooperation are becoming more firmly established.

Strengthening this environment of dialogue helps increase mutual respect and trust among people of different faiths and supports social cohesion and stability.

Particular attention is being paid to meeting citizens’ religious needs on a modern, convenient and lawful basis. Measures include making Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages more convenient to organise, introducing electronic services, expanding access to religious education, and improving opportunities to receive qualified answers to religious questions.

These efforts focus not only on improving systems and institutions, but also on the practical opportunities they create for people. Citizens’ rights, time, diverse needs, questions and spiritual concerns are emerging as important benchmarks for reform. Ultimately, the effectiveness of any system is determined by how much it eases people’s lives and how well it meets their rights and needs.

The primary aim of studying our ancestors’ heritage is not limited to repeating their names or restoring historical memory. The central task is to turn the rich scholarly legacy, traditions and values they left behind into intellectual capital for the new generation.

The legacy of Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, Imam Tirmidhi, Bahauddin Naqshband and many other eminent scholars is now becoming the subject of new academic research. This process reflects a fundamental positive shift in how our historical heritage is approached.

When these developments are viewed as an integrated system, the approach taking shape in New Uzbekistan can provisionally be described through six principal characteristics.

First, legal guarantees. Improving the legal foundations for freedom of conscience and the activities of religious organisations creates the institutional basis for an enlightened environment.

Second, enlightenment and education. Integrating religious knowledge with modern education, legal and media literacy, and independent-thinking skills strengthens people’s intellectual resilience.

Third, science and historical heritage. Conducting scholarly research into the legacy of great scholars, studying manuscripts and sources, and bringing them into contemporary academic discourse turns historical memory into an intellectual resource.

Fourth, prevention. In countering radicalism and extremism, attention to education, dialogue with young people, social support and information literacy—alongside legal measures—is intended to reduce the underlying risk factors.

Fifth, tolerance and dialogue. Promoting mutual respect among different confessional communities, open dialogue and cooperation is one of the most important factors in social stability.

Sixth, digital knowledge and enlightenment. In an era when young people and the wider public obtain information mainly through digital channels, producing reliable, high-quality and accessible educational content has become a requirement of the times.

The interplay of these areas defines the key characteristics of the approach taking shape in New Uzbekistan.

A closer examination of reforms in the religious and educational sphere reveals that they encompass processes closely interconnected with one another. They are united by the central idea of “Enlightenment Against Ignorance”. Its meaning is straightforward, yet its strategic importance is considerable: rather than giving people ready-made opinions, helping them develop the ability to think independently; equipping them with knowledge; countering harmful ideas not only through prohibitions but also through a sound worldview; and drawing intellectual strength and guidance for the future from history rather than merely recalling it.

In this sense, the most reliable way to combat ignorance is to address not only its consequences but also its causes and roots. This requires a long-term approach, because enlightenment does not produce results overnight. However, when independent thinking, knowledge and a sense of responsibility are developed in people, the results contribute to society’s long-term stability.

Ilhom MARUPOV,

Adviser to the Chairperson of the Committee on Religious Affairs; Head of the Information Service

Source: “Yangi Oʻzbekiston” newspaper, 14 October 2026, No. 212 (1811)