The Muslim Board of Uzbekistan has announced a fatwa on the Traffic Rules, which are considered social rules under Sharia law and are binding, the Board's press service said in a statement.
"Compliance with the Traffic rules serves to achieve the three goals of Sharia: health protection, protection of the generation, protection of property," - said the Board and added that violations are deemed as infringement of the rights of other road users and their harassment.
A driver who died in an accident due to speeding is deemed as person who committed suicide according to Sharia, the statement said.
The statement also noted that persons who violate or are unable to comply with the Traffic Rules are not allowed to drive a vehicle. In addition, driving is prohibited in the event of a threat to road traffic or if the vehicle is unusable.
Road users must abide by the rules of behavior and culture of communication, not interfere with others, and also refrain from rude words and actions, the fatwa said.
“A Muslim must comply with the rules and culture of the road, not because he is under the supervision of cameras or the supervision of traffic safety officers, but because their observance is a requirement of the Islamic Shariah. In this case, movement on the road [is equated] with a prayer,” the Muslims Office said.
In May alone, there were several major road traffic accidents in Uzbekistan with a large number of deaths. In Kashkadarya on May 8, Chevrolet Nexia and VAZ collided killing 7 people, including 2 children, 2 more were seriously injured. Two days later, 6 people were killed and 4 injured in the Fergana province in a collision of two Cobalt cars. The next day, Cobalt, Nexia and Damas clashed in Karakalpakstan, with 6 people died and 2 hospitalized. An accident involving a MAN truck and seven cars occurred in Angren on May 24, where 7 people died, 14 were injured. 5 schoolchildren were killed in two road accidents in Khorezm province.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan announced the creation of an interdepartmental working group "for a comprehensive study of problems in the field of road traffic and their practical elimination."
