Liability is being considered for inducing a child to participate in illegal religious education

In Uzbekistan, legislators are proposing to introduce administrative penalties for involving a child in unauthorized religious education. The bill "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Further Strengthen Children's Rights" passed its first reading on June 25, according to the lower chamber's press service.

Under the proposed law, parents or guardians who unlawfully involve a child in religious education may face fines ranging from 10 to 15 times the minimum wage (approximately 3.4 million to 5.1 million soums). If the offense is repeated within a year, the penalty increases to 15 to 25 times the minimum wage (around 5.1 million to 8.5 million soums) or up to 15 days of administrative detention.

Additionally, the law specifies that parents or guardians cannot opt to have a child receive religious education from unregistered or unlicensed individuals or organizations lacking appropriate religious credentials, without permission from Uzbekistan's central authority.

According to lawmakers, this legislation aims to safeguard children's educational rights, promote their development, and protect them from potential threats of religious extremism, separatism, and fanaticism.