A/HRC/37/49/Add.2
some items of food from their regular meals or the food that their families may have
brought for them, but the prison would not serve them additional meals before dawn
(suhur) before they started their fast nor adjust meal times to accommodate the evening
meal (iftar) outside the regular prison schedule. Muslim prisoners were allowed to pray
within the limit of the internal rules, such as in bed without waking other inmates. The
prison authorities also stated that imams and representatives of other religions were invited
to give talks to the inmates. However, the Special Rapporteur observed that there were no
prayer rooms in the prison.
73.
The prison authorities maintained that prison officers are trained on the United
Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela
Rules). Since the ongoing reforms, they also seemed to be making considerable efforts to
the rehabilitation of prisoners, especially those who were convicted on alleged religious
extremism. Some prisoners were also offered opportunities for early release or amnesty by
proving their remorse and for good behaviour in prison. However, released prisoners
reportedly faced challenges of reintegration into society, especially when their civil,
political, economic and social rights were not fully reinstated. They remained de facto
blacklisting or on some supervision list.
74.
There is currently a draft law on public control that would allow Parliament and
citizens to supervise the activities of all law enforcement agencies, in terms of protection of
human rights and freedoms.
75.
Moreover, the President recently established People’s Reception Centres throughout
the country with the aim of making the Government more accountable and accessible to the
people. Citizens now can raise their concerns to the President through the centres and they
should usually get a response within a short time. To date, the Government claims to have
received about 1,500,000 complaints, of which 80 per cent have been resolved. However, it
is unclear whether there were any complaints relating to violation of human rights, such as
the right to freedom of religion or belief. The Special Rapporteur was under the impression
that most of the complaints were related to the provision of public services.
C.
Religious literature
76.
Many religious communities felt that their enjoyment of their right to freedom of
religion or belief would be better if the possession and use of religious literature were less
restricted. The publication, import and distribution of religious literature are strictly
controlled under article 19 of the 1998 Law and only the central administrative bodies of
registered religious groups can seek permission to print or import religious material. Those
are the Bible Society of Uzbekistan, the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, Tashkent Islamic
University, Tashkent Islamic Institute, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Full Gospel
Church, the Baptist Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
77.
Article 184 (2) of the Code of Administrative Offences bans the illegal manufacture,
storage, import or distribution of materials and religious content, and article 184 (3)
prohibits the production, storage or distribution of materials propagating “religious
enmity”, which, if committed repeatedly, entails criminal liability under article 244 (3) with
up to three years’ corrective labour. The State forbids banned “extremist” religious groups
from distributing any type of publication. Persons who distribute leaflets or literature via
social networks have been subjected to criminal prosecution and faced prison terms ranging
from 5 to 20 years for spreading extremist ideology.
78.
Resolution No. 10, adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 20 January 2014, states
that all “religious materials” imported, produced and distributed in Uzbekistan must first be
subject to a State theological review. The resolution defines religious materials as books,
magazines, newspapers, brochures, leaflets, audiovisual material (including animated
material), CDs, DVDs and materials posted on the Internet that describe the origins, history,
ideology, teachings, commentaries and rituals of various religions of the world. Materials in
electronic form on all faiths are also targeted. The resolution also outlines the procedures
for carrying out the mandatory theological review and tasks the Committee for Religious
Affairs with producing an “expert opinion” within 10 days of receipt of religious materials.
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