Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on the state of religious freedom in the world in 2019, in which the independent structure did not for the first time classify Uzbekistan as “countries of particular concern” (CPC), positively evaluated by representatives of official and expert circles, as well as US media.

In particular, Chris Siple, Honorary President of the United States Institute for Global Engagement, stressed that he welcomes the agreement of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedoms with the decision of the U.S. Department of State of December 2018 to exclude Uzbekistan from the list of countries of particular concern in the field of religious freedoms.

In his opinion, Uzbekistan continues to achieve sustainable and real progress.

“I was particularly impressed by the ongoing frank and constructive dialogue with international experts on how to achieve mutual respect and mutual trust in society, so that the country would be resistant to both discrimination and extremism,” the expert notes. “Uzbekistan sets an example for Central Asia, while at the same time presenting to the world a model of what it means to be involved, respect and protect others.

As Catherine Putz, managing editor of the leading The Diplomat newspaper, notes, USCIRF has documented the progress made by the country under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which the State Department recognized two years ago.

In its opinion, the next step will be the complete removal of Uzbekistan from the Commission’s field of vision, which will require difficult discussions not only about religious prisoners, but also about how secular states can and should interact with the religious population.