Committee for Religious Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan

      The Committee for Religious Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan was created in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated March 7, 1992 “On the establishment of the Committee for Religious Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.” vested with the authority to solve the problems of ensuring the right of every person to freedom of conscience and religious beliefs, ensuring the equality of citizens regardless of their attitude to religion, as well as regulating relations related to the activities of religious organizations, is a governing body.

In its activities, the Committee for Religious Affairs complies with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, resolutions and other documents of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, decrees, resolutions and orders of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan and follows its orders, as well as its Regulations.

The Committee for Religious Affairs carries out its activities in cooperation with other government bodies, local governments, public associations and other organizations. The main tasks of the Committee on Religious Affairs are:
- implementation of a unified policy in resolving religious issues in accordance with the laws on freedom of conscience and religious organizations together with local government bodies;
- ensuring interaction and cooperation of government bodies with religious organizations located on the territory of the republic;
- reflect the interests of religious organizations registered in accordance with the procedure established by law in state policy.

In order to fulfill the tasks assigned to it, the Committee on Religious Affairs performs the following functions:
- coordinates the interaction of government bodies with religious organizations and monitors the implementation of laws on freedom of conscience and religious organizations;
- conducts work on religious issues related to relationships with religious organizations, as well as foreign religious organizations;
- upon request from religious organizations, they provide assistance in interaction with government bodies and provide the necessary assistance on issues that require resolution;
- pursues a policy of strengthening mutual understanding and tolerance between religious organizations and their members, carries out organizational work in this direction;
- participates in the development of draft regulatory legal documents related to freedom of conscience and the activities of religious organizations, in accordance with the order of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- organizes, in accordance with the established procedure, control over the licensing of the activities of religious educational institutions, compliance by licensees with licensing requirements and conditions, maintains a register of licenses;
- organizes the establishment of connections between religious organizations within the republic and abroad;
- Allow citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan to visit holy places outside the country, including Hajj and Umrah, send citizens abroad for training, internships and exchange of experience in religious schools, accept foreign citizens for training, organize international conferences;
- ensures the collection of information about religious organizations and publishing houses that produce religious literature in the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- checks religious products (press and electronic publications, audio, video cassettes, CDs, DVDs and other discs) produced in the republic or imported from abroad, and coordinates these activities.

The Committee on Religious Affairs has the following rights to perform the tasks and functions assigned to it:
- request and receive information and materials from ministries, state committees, departments, as well as local governments on issues related to the implementation of the Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” and other legal documents relating to religion;
- coordination of the activities of religious organizations, including religious educational institutions, their educational process and programs, educational work, subject curricula, religious studies, providing them with organizational, legal, methodological support in the implementation of these activities;
- request the necessary information from the leaders of religious organizations in the prescribed manner, as well as participate in the events they conduct related to their activities.

The Committee on Religious Affairs carries out close mutual cooperation with religious organizations located on the territory of the republic, promoting the activities of various religious denominations and societies.