US State Department’s report on Uzbekistan is based on prejudiced information – Muslim Board

The US State Department’s report from 4 January 2018 included Myanmar, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan to this list along Uzbekistan.

Muslims board of Uzbekistan said that the decision of the US State Department is a mistake. The board stated that major changes took place in Uzbekistan for last several years.

It added that great work was done to preserve Islamic values, promote religious education and disseminate the good teachings of our religion.

“The Center for Islamic Civilizations and international research centers named Imam Bukhari and Imam at-Termizi have been established. Five scientific schools specializing in the study of kalam, hadith, fiqh, aqeedah and tasawwuf were opened in the regions,” the Board said.

The number of Islamic educational institutions has reached 11. The highest madrasah was established in Bukhara, the Board added.

About 15 mosques were built, 55 mosques were repaired in Uzbekistan. Only in the remote regions of Surkhandarya region 4 new mosques have started their activity, the same number of mosques is planned to be opened.

Uzbekistan Muslims Board said that Uzbekistan in cooperation with foreign partners are preparing publish Quran. The Quran was also published in Braille.Uzbekistan is the third country in the world to implement this good cause.

The Hajj Quota increased from 5200 to 7200, and the quota for Umrah from 6000 to 10,000, for the first time a group of veterans of the Great Patriotic War was sent to Hajj free of charge. To date, more than 120,000 citizens have performed the Hajj, and more than 92,000 citizens carried out Umrah pilgrimage.

It is necessary to pay attention to one more important question. At the initiative of the head of our state, more than 16 thousand people were excluded from the lists of members of various religious movements. A lot of work has been done to study the problems and goals of these citizens, to prevent their discrimination, full support, to ensure their return to society.

For the first time in the history of our country, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted the Decree on clemency of 2,700 convicts, including the release of 956 persons from the penal colony, who committed crimes for various reasons, sincerely repented of their deeds and firmly embarked on the path of correction. Convicts were given the opportunity to reunite with their families and return to society as soon as possible, to become active participants in the reforms being carried out in the country.

The Board noted that the US State Department included Uzbekistan to the list of countries of special concern based on past views and biased information, which contradict to the real state of affairs.