FoRB Conditions in Uzbekistan Continue to Backslide

FoRB Conditions in Uzbekistan Continue to Backslide

Washington, DC - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report on Uzbekistan:

Declining FoRB Conditions in Mirziyoyev's "New Uzbekistan" - Ten years after Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed presidency of Uzbekistan, he has reversed early positive reforms to the freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) landscape. This publication assesses Uzbekistan's negative religious freedom trajectory by summarizing its backsliding over the past decade and highlighting the damaging impact of its legal framework and policies on religious communities.

In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. Department of State place Uzbekistan on its "Special Watch List," or SWL, for engaging in systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency 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].