State of Human Rights in Uzbekistan: An Analysis

Science technology & Digital finance, 2023

This article provides information on democracy and ethics and existing conditions that currently exist in Uzbek society. In addition, modern solutions to existing problems have been given.

A. Mihr and C. Wittke (eds.), Human Rights Dissemination in Central Asia: Human Rights Education and Capacity Building in the Post-Soviet Space (Springer, 2023), pp. 15 – 29, 2023

Now that I have written this chapter, I realize that it was an exercise in the relativity of law and legal sociology. The chapter is about "human rights", but its limited scope compelled me to mention some and omit others. The focus is on civil and political rights, although economic, social, and cultural rights are also dealt with. The chapter is about "Central Asia", but the truth is that there is no single Central Asia, and not only do the Central Asian states-Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan-differ from one other but each also displays important internal differences. Such differences-for example, competition for power between regional clans 1-inform regular political processes within the states but on a few occasions have resulted in situations of violence. The Central Asian states have acceded to all the major instruments of international human rights law but when it comes to implementation, much work remains to be done, in particular, as far as the freedom of the press, rule of law, independence of the judiciary, corruption perception, and gender inequality are concerned. The constitutions of all Central Asian states contain provisions about the democratic character of their respective political regimes 2 but politicians across the region often insist that democratic practices in the region are

Journal of CESNUR, 2023

With the collapse of the USSR in 1991, a number of Soviet Republics have become independent. They have adopted their own constitution and have put in place their own laws to regulate the relations between the state and their various religious communities. This was the case for the five post-Soviet republics of Central Asia. All of them are member states of the United Nations and participating states of the OSCE but they are not member states of the Council of Europe. It means their citizens do not have access to the European Court of Human Rights. I will analyze here the evolution of their respective legislations and their implementation in the light of the international standards in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Religions, 2020

This paper argues that the following common patterns help explain the ongoing Islamic revival in Central Asia: (a) “de-modern” and “ethnicized” Islam as an enduring legacy of the Soviet period; (b) penetration of Salafism; (c) securitization of “non-official” Islam by state and non-state actors and (d) the rise of conservative Islam which goes hand in hand with retraditionalization. These factors, in their turn, pose serious challenges to developing inclusive society and human rights in Central Asian countries. This paper argues that the Islamic revival in Central Asian countries has come to the point when it can be analyzed under the prism, whether it impedes the development of inclusive society and human rights or not.

2021

Common patterns of religious revival pose serious challenges to developing inclusive society and human rights in Central Asian countries. Overall, it can be argued that religious [Islamic] revival in Central Asian countries has come to the point when it can be analyzed under the prism, whether it impedes the development of inclusive society and human rights or not.

Mediterranean Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (MJBAS), 2021

Democracy is not only a political and legal phenomenon, but also a high value associated with high spirituality, rich culture, personal maturity, which determines the spiritual and moral condition of every citizen. If we compare Eastern and Western democracies, unlike its Western democracies, the change of the world, of social life, begins first in man, in his spiritual world. This article provides a scientific analysis of the specifics of Eastern democracy in the development of man, his spiritual world and the building of a democratic society.

Communist and Post-Communist Studies, 2007

The “re-Islamization” of society in independent Uzbekistan has proven to be a complex process, generating conflict in the social, cultural and political spheres. Since the early 1990s, the regime of Islam Karimov has sought to undermine any manifestation of “unofficial” Islam via imprisonment of the leadership, implementation of repressive statutes governing religious activity, and other coercive means. Yet, since 1999 Uzbekistan has experienced more religious violence directed against government power structures by “extremists” than any other former Soviet republic in Central Asia. Important issues that should direct U.S. policy remain unresolved: How significant is the threat from radical Islam in Uzbekistan, that is, what are the chances of politicized, “fundamentalist” Islam emerging as a mass movement there? Has recent U.S. policy reduced or exacerbated the dynamics of conflict between the regime and the “radicals?” In order to effect resolution of this conflict, a new paradigm...

Women’s Studies: an Interdisciplinary Journal, 42: 6 (667-695). , 2013

This article examines non-liberatory discourses on social change and on gender relations produced by some Muslim women activists in post-Soviet Central Asia. These discourses, if not dismissed as regressive or politically objectionable, are often explained in terms of post-Soviet neo-traditionalism, or in terms of post-Soviet subjects’ split-identity, located between modernity and tradition. This analysis of socio-historical context formative of differently structured desires for social change of Muslim women activists challenges such explanations. I argue that these desires reflect a particular pedigree of mutual constitution of gendered religious and secular discourses; neither of which can be reduced to just traditional or modern. I demonstrate a different emerging understanding of these women’s activism, through an analysis of life and work of Hafiza-opa Nasrulloh, a devout Muslim, a democrat, and a traditionalist, adamant about granting women equal but not exactly the same rights as men.

Mediterranean Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences (MJBAS) , 2024

This article delves into the significance of Uzbekistan's new constitution in shaping the trajectory of the country’s progress. The author thoroughly examines the key provisions and reforms introduced in the constitution and discuss their implications for advancing democracy, governance, and human rights in Uzbekistan. By analyzing the political landscape and historical context, the article offers valuable insights into how the new constitution can foster inclusive development and modernization in the country. The author’s perspective provides a nuanced understanding of the role of legal frameworks in promoting social and political change, making this article a compelling read for those interested in constitutional law, Uzbekistan’s political evolution, and democratization in the region.

2005

The Central Asian republics have largely remained hidden from the world attention since they gained independence a decade ago. However, immediately following September 11th the region was brought into focus as a part of the US-led “War on Terror”. Uzbekistan became a full partner in this initiative when the government decided to allow the U.S. military full use of its territory in the invasion against Afghanistan . As Uzbek President Karimov has become willing to work with the West than neighboring countries, the debate in recent years has been how and to what extent, rather than whether or not the United States should commit resources to Uzbekistan and the rest of Central Asia

2020

This paper focuses on local authorities in Soviet Uzbekistan and their role in anti-religious policy implementation, as well as on their position in local Muslim communities. Islam has always played a specific, major role in Central Asia. Sovietization policies applied from 1920s onwards attempted to change local society by eradicating Islam, and other religions, from public life, and local authorities were assigned a significant role in this process. On deeper examination, however, it appears that these programs were largely ineffective, and their scale and impact demand further scrutiny. I argue that while local authorities were an extension of the Soviet system that, among other things, disseminated atheistic propaganda and intended to control and to ultimately destroy religious life, their loyalties often rested with their Muslim communities. Furthermore, I argue that the behaviour of local authorities hampered the successful implementation of Soviet anti-religious policies and efforts to control Islam in many respects. I believe that a sound analysis of this issue will lead us to a better understanding of the position of Islam in Soviet Central Asia, as well as helping to understand the ongoing issues surrounding tradition, religion and Islamism in the region today.

2014

The opinions expressed here are those of the author only and do not represent the Uzbekistan Initiative. No. 14 uzbekistaninitiative Key Points • The president plays a crucial role in the political system of Uzbekistan, but its status has changed and some responsibilities have been transferred to the Government and the Parliament. • Political parties slowly but gradually have become an integral part of Uzbekistan's social and political life. However, their success depends on their modernization and the overall political liberalization of the country. • The next prime minister will be nominated by the political party which has secured the greatest number of deputy seats in elections to the legislative chamber. The parliament now has the right to express a vote of no-confidence in regard to the prime minister. • The mahallas function as a kind of self-government of citizens at the local level. At the same time, mahalla activity is tightly bound with local public authorities. • More than 6,000 NGOs are registered in Uzbekistan. In spite of some achievements they experience difficulties in defining their sector of activities and they are undermined by a lack of professionalism and difficult relations with state institutions. • The study of contemporary history is a relatively new trend in Uzbekistan's historical scholarship. This discipline did not exist in the Soviet period, and does not have a clear methodology and needs to develop interdisciplinary and comparative approaches.

Every state has its own approach toward the provision of freedom of religious belief and conscience, regulation of state-religion relations, the duties and principles and performance of this policy. This policy is based on historical tradition, national-moral values, as well as principles and norms of international law and national legislation.