Tashkent hosted the International Scientific and Practical Conference, “Religious Tolerance in New Uzbekistan”.

The event, organized in connection with the International Day for Tolerance, was to study the work on strengthening religious tolerance and interreligious and interfaith harmony, analyze the tasks for the future, identify existing problems, and develop proposals for solving problems in this area.

The conference was organized by the Committee on Religious Affairs, the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries, and the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan.

It was attended by specialists from the United States, the United Kingdom, Korea, Türkiye, Malaysia, Portugal, Armenia, Russia, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan, employees of the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan, representatives of the diplomatic corps, theologians, and Islamic scholars.

The participants emphasized that in today’s era of globalization, the issue of interethnic harmony and religious tolerance is becoming increasingly relevant.

It was noted that the country pays special attention to further strengthening tolerance between representatives of the officially registered 16 religious confessions. The 74th goal of the Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan attaches great importance to enhancing the environment of interethnic harmony and interreligious tolerance in society.

Since 2019, at the initiative of the Head of state, the Tolerance Week has been organized during this international holiday. This year, it was held under the motto “Religious Tolerance in New Uzbekistan”.

The conference participants visited the sections “Experience of New Uzbekistan and the World in Ensuring Interreligious Dialogue and Tolerance”, “Development of Education and Enlightenment: Ways to Ensure Interreligious Harmony and Stability”, “The Role of the Special Resolution of the UN General Assembly “Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance”.

Nazokat Usmanova, photos by Alimurod Mamadaminov, UzA