The Legislative Chamber reviewed and passed the new version of the Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations Bill in the third reading.

The MP Inomjon Kudratov said that the bill, which was adopted at the session, will be sent to the Senate within 10 days.

Since the announcement of the draft (in August 2020), more than 700 proposals have been received from the public, international organizations and local experts. The draft was also widely discussed in committee and party factions.

in the new bill Deputies removed one of the problems that concerned the public - the restriction of citizens from walking in public places in prayer clothes.

The draft proposed to reduce the number of initiators required for setting up of a religious organization from 100 to 50, and simplify the procedure for state registration of religious organizations. In particular, the number documents needed to be submitted has been reduced, the requirements for their notarization and other forms have been abolished, public services are to be provided in full electronic form, and the grounds for refusal of registration have been clearly defined. The period for consideration of an application for registration of a religious organization has been reduced from 3 to 1 month.

Inomjon Kudratov also said that government interference in the activities of religious organizations had been reduced. The Committee on Religious Affairs has been left as the competent and supporting body in the field.

Alisher Kadyrov, another member of the Legislative Chamber, said deputies had fully agreed that the ban on citizens being allowed to walk in public in prayer clothes should be lifted.

However, Article 184-1 of the Code of Administrative Liability, which is inextricably linked to this law, remains in force.

According to the law, "the wearing of prayer clothes in public places by citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan (except for those in the service of religious organizations) entails a fine of five to ten times the basic amount or administrative detention for up to fifteen days."

If the restrictions on walking in prayer clothes in public places are removed, this article will remain in force contrary to the new law. Therefore, the deputies told the Committee on Religious Affairs to develop a proposal to repeal Article 184-1 from the CoAL and take the initiative in this regard.

It should be noted that last month the US Commission on International Religious Freedom criticized the new version of the draft Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations Bill for non-compliance with international standards, the OSCE and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe negatively assessed the draft.

A number of provisions in the bill, including the requirement for state registration of religious organizations, a ban on private religious education and missionary work, possible difficulties in registering a religious organization, the impossibility of conducting religious ceremonies in certain places, and the mandatory examination of all religious literature and materials and some other provisions were not approved by international organizations.

For these and a number of other reasons, the commission recommended that the State Department include Uzbekistan on its special watchlist.