AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001937 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2017 TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV UZ SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ACTING CHAIRMAN YUSUPOV REF: A. TASHKENT 1739 ¶B. TASHKENT 1764 Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: On November 5, Forum 18 News Service reported that Uzbekistan's Religion Law is currently being discussed in the Religious Affairs Committee (RAC) and speculated that restrictions on religious organizations could be made harsher. During an introductory courtesy call by the Ambassador on November 6, Acting RAC Chairman Ortiq Yusupov confirmed that the government was considering changes to the law, but did not indicate whether restrictions would be tightened or relaxed. Yusupov also told the Ambassador that the government has granted exemptions to the Religion Law's restrictions on the number of members for religious congregations. Though it remains possible that the government will toughen the Religion Law, we do not believe that this will necessarily be the case. End summary. FORUM 18 REPORTS THAT RELIGION LAW WILL BE MADE HARSHER -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) On November 5, Forum 18 News Service reported that the country's Religion Law is currently being discussed in the Religious Affairs Committee (RAC) and speculated that restrictions on religious organizations would be made stricter. According to Forum 18's government sources, on October 23, the RAC wrote to religious organizations registered on a national level, seeking their views on how the Law could be amended. The letter, signed by Deputy RAC Chairman Begzot Kayrov, requested that any input be submitted by October 25 (a two-day deadline). Leaders of the organizations were also told that changes to the Religion Law would be discussed at an upcoming Council for Religious Confessions. YUSUPOV CONFIRMS CHANGES ARE BEING DISCUSSED -------------- ¶3. (C) When asked by the Ambassador whether the government was considering changes to the Religion Law, Yusupov noted that the Law has not been amended since it was first adopted in 1998, but added that the government was considering changes and would "inform us" about them later. He did not indicate whether the government was planning on tightening or relaxing restrictions. STILL WAITING FOR AMBASSADOR HANFORD'S LETTER -------------- ¶4. (C) Apologizing that the long-promised letter from Ambassador Hanford had not yet materialized (ref A),the Ambassador noted that there were still clear steps the GOU could take now to improve religious freedom in Uzbekistan, such as lowering the required number of members a religious congregation must have before it can be officially registered (Note: The Religion Law requires 100 members. End note.) In reply, Yusupov said that when the Law was first being considered, several smaller religious congregations had lobbied the government for exemptions, which he claimed President Karimov had approved, though he did not provide any examples or indicate whether any additional exemptions have been granted since 1998. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador told Yusupov that the Embassy has been in frequent contact with the Jehovah's Witnesses and would appreciate any new information that he could provide on their treatment within Uzbekistan. Yusupov replied that the RAC has met with JW representatives more often than other non-Muslim religious leaders, noting that their AmCit General Counsel travels to Uzbekistan almost four times a year. CRA "EXPERT GROUP" INSPECTS INCOMING RELIGIOUS LITERATURE -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Comparing September 11th and the 1999 bombings in Tashkent, Yusupov noted that the United States and Uzbekistan have shared interest in fighting extremism. Yusupov told the Ambassador that Uzbekistan has taken a lead role in combating religious extremism in Central Asia, noting that the RAC has TASHKENT 00001937 002 OF 002 a special "expert group" dedicated to examining all religious literature, including CD-roms, which are imported into the country. YUSUPOV THANKS AMBASSADOR FOR IMAM'S TRAVEL TO U.S. -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Yusupov thanked the Ambassador for allowing an Uzbek imam to travel to the United States during Ramadan this year to administer to its Uzbek Diaspora. He further suggested that Uzbek imams be allowed to travel to the United States every year during Ramadan. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) While we were able to confirm that the government is considering changes to the Religion Law, we do not agree with Forum 18 that it necessarily intends to make it harsher. It is simply too early to know. NORLAND