Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A Presidential Decree has been issued in Uzbekistan titled "On Measures to Further Strengthen Citizens' Rights to Freedom of Conscience and Advance Religious and Educational Reforms to a New Stage."

The Decree outlines priority areas for enhancing activities in the religious-educational sphere, including:

• Introducing advanced mechanisms to further strengthen religious tolerance and interfaith harmony in society;
• Radical improvements in the system of training religious and educational personnel to cultivate specialists who meet modern requirements;
• Supporting relevant scientific research aimed at fostering solidarity, mutual respect, and compassion among the population and ensuring the stability of the socio-moral environment.

A new cooperation system based on the principle "A Tolerant Society – A Stable State" will be launched. Key partners in this initiative include the Committee on Religious Affairs, the Association of Mahallas of Uzbekistan, the Agency for Youth Affairs, the Committee on Family and Women's Affairs, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The primary tasks of this cooperation system include:

• Ensuring the interaction of government and public organizations in implementing state policy in the religious sphere;
• Ensuring freedom of conscience and supporting peaceful coexistence of representatives of various faiths.

As part of the Decree, a "Unified Hajj and Umrah Portal" will be developed, along with a mobile application, by September 1, 2025, to create additional convenience for citizens performing religious rites. The portal will include a unified electronic queue for citizens going on Hajj, as well as an electronic list of pilgrims heading for Umrah. All processes related to the collection and processing of information about Hajj and Umrah activities will be digitized.

The Uzbek International Islamic Academy has been renamed the International Academy of Islamic Studies of Uzbekistan. The Academy will serve as the leading state higher education and research institution specializing in Islamic studies and religious studies, as well as the development of academic programs, textbooks, and learning materials.

A Professional Development and Retraining Institute for Religious and Educational Personnel will be created under the Committee on Religious Affairs. The Institute will be responsible for the advanced training and retraining of specialists in Islamic studies, religious studies, and the relationship between the state and religion.

The Decree also outlines the establishment of the Bahauddin Naqshband Research Center in the Bukhara region, tasked with studying the humanistic ideas of the great ancestor Bahauddin Naqshband and scholars of the Naqshbandi Sufi order.

The International Imam Moturidi Research Center has been transferred to the Cabinet of Ministers' jurisdiction. The Center will focus on conducting research in Islamic studies and analyzing processes related to religion.

A Coordinating Council will be established to ensure the coordination of activities in the religious-educational sphere in education, science, and research. The Council will act as an advisory body responsible for coordinating all processes related to religious education and research.

The Council will coordinate the educational and research activities of organizations such as the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the International Imam Bukhari Research Center, the International Imam Moturidi Research Center, the International Academy of Islamic Studies of Uzbekistan, and other religious-educational institutions.

Additionally, the activities of the Council for Religious Affairs will be improved, and state officials, public representatives, religious scholars, and specialists will join the Council as observers.