Head of the Committee on Religious Affairs Ortiqbek Yusupov said that Uzbekistan pays special attention to ensuring implementation of the Constitution rights of the citizens to freedom of faith and conscience, as well as strengthening tolerance and development of inter-religious friendship and cooperation. Constitution and law of Uzbekistan corresponds to main clauses and requirements of international legal documents and determine principles and order of religious freedom.

It was said that the activity of the Committee on Religious Affairs is directed at strengthening faith freedom and inter-religious tolerance and at the same it does not interferes to internal affairs of the religious organizations and develops cooperation among them. Representatives of all religions support work in this direction.

Uzbekistan constructed and reconstructed hundreds of mosques, churches, synagogues and praying houses, including Hazrati Imom Complex in Tashkent, mosques in Navoi and Qarshi, Orthodox temples in Tashkent, Samarkand, Navoi, Urgench, Roman-Catholic church in Tashkent, etc.

It was stated that the believers in Uzbekistan freely conduct their devotions and widely celebrate their religious holidays.

Usmonhon Alimov, chairperson of Uzbekistan Muslims’ Board, said that Uzbekistan pays attention to explaining youth about real core of religion as humanity, humanism and mercy.

He said that currently there are over 2,000 mosques in Uzbekistan, which fully satisfy religious demand of Muslims. He said that priority task of Uzbekistan Muslims’ Board is to reconstruct mosques and create favourable conditions for believers.

Alimov also stated that thousand young people study Islam at Tashkent Islam University, Tashkent Islam Institute and nine secondary special Islamic educational establishments. He said that experience of Uzbekistan in training specialists is studied by Muslims of other countries.

Metropolitan of Tashkent and Central Asia of Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir said that Orthodox believers can fully conduct their devotions in Uzbekistan. He said that newspaper Slovo Jizni and magazine Vostok Svishi, covering Orthodox life, and other religious publications are published in Uzbekistan.

Bishop of Roman-Catholic Church in Uzbekistan Eje Matsulevich said Uzbekistan created favourable conditions for believers of any religion, including for Catholics.

Priest of Armenian Apostolic Church Artak Loretsyan said that the cooperation with various religions with the Committee on Religious Affairs is live example of attention of the government to creation of all conditions for ensuring faith freedom.

It is worth to note that over 130 nations live in Uzbekistan. Overall, 2,200 religious organizations of 16 religions are registered in the country.