Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 30 October 2019, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan Javlon Vakhabov in Washington met with the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief of the UN Human Rights Council, Ahmed Shahid.

During the meeting, the implementation of the Road Map, approved by the Parliament of Uzbekistan, which was aimed at implementing the recommendations of Ahmed Shahid following his visit to Uzbekistan in October 2017, was discussed in detail.

The measures taken in Uzbekistan to improve legislation and law enforcement practices to ensure religious freedoms were discussed, progress was made to simplify the procedures for registration and implementation of activities of religious organizations, strengthen institutional mechanisms for promoting enlightened Islam and improve the system of religious education, and to decriminalize and de-radicalize prisoners for crimes related to with religion.

The process of developing the draft Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” in a new edition will be separately affected.

Ahmed Shahid praised the efforts undertaken in Uzbekistan to ensure religious freedoms and emphasized that "significant results have been achieved in the country." The UN representative welcomed the interaction with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which, in his opinion, has a professional group of experts who know the specifics and priorities of Uzbekistan. It was emphasized that the office of the special rapporteur is interested in every possible contribution to further promoting reforms in the field of protecting freedom of religion.

In conclusion, Ahmed Shahid expressed his readiness to visit Uzbekistan again in early 2020.