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RELIGION IN UZBEKISTAN: ONGOING CHALLENGES

RELIGION IN UZBEKISTAN: ONGOING CHALLENGES Igor Kotler

Religious minorities face significant challenges in Uzbekistan. Law enforcement frequently subjects them to torture, intimidation, and harassment, particularly targeting those who actively advocate for their rights. Independent Muslims, Protestant Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hare Krishna followers, and Muslim converts to other faiths have been primary victims of the government’s increasing restrictions on religious activities. Authorities often use force to coerce false testimony from churchgoers.

During the Soviet era, non-Orthodox Christian denominations were completely outlawed, and those who continued practicing their faith faced long prison sentences. Soviet propaganda depicted members of these denominations as dangerous fanatics and "sectarians," an image that has remained deeply ingrained in Uzbek society. Additionally, the post-Soviet radicalization of Islam has further exposed non-Orthodox Christian groups to persecution. Their stance on military service, national holidays, and state symbols has alienated them from mainstream Uzbek society, leading to their classification as unpatriotic and even treasonous, which has resulted in severe repression.

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