The Central Asia Program (CAP) hosted a timely discussion with leading officials and experts on the state of religious freedom in Uzbekistan and the publication in the Uzbek language of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF’s) seminal report, “Uzbekistan’s Religious and Political Prisoners.” Six months following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and several years into an opening up of the space for the free exercise of religious belief under President Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan continues to experience dynamic changes in the sphere of religious freedom. The USCIRF report, authored by Steve Swerdlow, is based on more than a year-long investigation and presents research findings regarding the government’s continued imprisonment of peaceful religious believers and recommends further reform of Uzbekistan’s laws on extremism. In a hopeful sign, since the initial publication, several religious prisoners whose cases are highlighted in the report have been released. This roundtable discussion will also take place following a visit to Uzbekistan by USCIRF Commissioners and staff.
The Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (IERES)
at the Elliott School of International Affairs
