The sentence for wearing religious dress in public places is abolished

"The sentence for wearing religious dress in public places is abolished in Uzbekistan. The administrative liability established by law for citizens wearing prayer clothes in public places is being abolished. This announcement was made on September 19th of this year in the Committee on Judiciary and Law and Combating Corruption of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.

On September 19th of this year, the Senate committee held preliminary discussions on the Law "On Amendments and Additions to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan."

During the discussions, it was noted that the adoption of this law will result in further strengthening of interethnic harmony, religious tolerance, the preservation of secular values, and the reliable protection of women's rights in society.

It is known that, according to Article 184-1 of the current Code of Administrative Responsibility, citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan (except those in the service of religious organizations) who wear prayer clothes in public places are subject to a fine of five to ten times the BHM or administrative detention for up to fifteen days. However, the legislation does not specify precisely what is included in the "prayer dress."

Additionally, during the meeting held by the experts of the committee and specialists in the field, it was noted that recently in the country, representatives of the religious field have been performing religious ceremonies to conclude marriages even when there is no legal marriage. It is observed that this practice causes social problems.

Furthermore, some religious bloggers have pointed out that there is an increase in the number of speeches on social networks that create controversy among the representatives of society leading a secular and religious lifestyle. These speeches express only their religious views and incite religious enmity.

The Senate press office stated, "According to the law, promoting one category of citizens as superior or inferior to another category of citizens based on their national, racial, ethnic, or religious affiliation, performing a religious ceremony of marriage between persons whose marriages are not registered in accordance with the law, and polygamy, it is envisaged to establish appropriate responsibility for promoting sex and promoting discrimination based on gender. Also, responsibility is established for openly denying the equal rights of women and men and for discriminating against citizens based on their national, racial, ethnic, or religious affiliation, as well as for engaging in activities by a religious organization that are not provided for in its charter."

At the end of the meeting, the recommendations prepared by the experts on this law were presented to the Committee on Judiciary and Anti-corruption of the Senate.