Participation in extremist organizations is punishable by up to 10 years in prison
The President of Uzbekistan has signed the Law “On introducing amendments and addenda to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of combating extremism”.
The law introduces provisions into the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan stipulating imprisonment for five to ten years for participation in the activities of extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, or other prohibited organizations.
Amendments to the Code of Administrative Responsibility stipulate that producing or possessing, with intent to distribute, materials promoting extremist, separatist or fanatical ideas, calling for the mass extermination or forcible displacement of citizens, or aimed at spreading panic among the population, as well as producing or possessing, with intent to distribute, or displaying the insignia or symbols of extremist or terrorist organizations, is punishable by a fine of 50 to 100 times the base calculation amount for individuals and 100 to 150 times for officials, with confiscation of the items involved in the offense, or administrative detention for up to 15 days.
The term “religious extremism” in legislative and regulatory acts has been replaced with “extremism”.
Under amendments to the Law “On countering extremism”, the Ministry of Justice maintains an Electronic Register of Extremist Organizations and Materials (Sources), which is published on the ministry’s official website and is publicly accessible.
The register includes organizations whose activities have been suspended due to their involvement in extremist activities, organizations designated as extremist, materials recognized as extremist, and electronic sources on telecommunications networks or the Internet that have repeatedly (two or more times within one year) published and disseminated extremist materials.
State bodies responsible for countering extremism submit requests to the Prosecutor General’s Office to have materials (sources) declared extremist. Such requests must be accompanied by an expert opinion confirming the presence of extremist content in the materials (sources).
The Prosecutor General’s Office examines the validity of the submitted documents. If the grounds are justified, the Prosecutor General or a deputy submits an application to the Supreme Court to have the materials (sources) declared extremist. The Supreme Court makes such determinations in accordance with the procedure established by law.
Norgul Abduraimova, UzA
