As previously reported, at the invitation of the Head of State Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Singapore Halimah Yacob is in Uzbekistan on a state visit.

On May 24, the President of Singapore met in Tashkent with leaders of religious denominations of Uzbekistan. 

During the dialogue, it was noted that ancient Mawarannahr, located in the heart of Asia and the current land of Uzbekistan, was the center connecting different regions, continents, cultures, and sciences through the Great Silk Road. When Islam came to the region where Zoroastrianism and Buddhism flourished in the past, such great scientists and thinkers as Imam Bukhari, Abu Isa Termizi, Abu Mansur Maturidi, Abu Rayhan Beruni, Ibn Sina, Ahmad Fergani emerged in this land.

During the conversation, the Advisor to the President for Cooperation with Public and Religious Organizations Muzaffar Komilov, Chairman of the Board of Muslims of Uzbekistan, Mufti Nuriddin Kholiqnazarov informed the guests about the innovations and amenities created for representatives of different religions on the initiative of the Head of State in all spheres, in particular, in the religious and enlightenment sphere, the direction of freedom of religion and belief. Several new mosques and churches are being built, and research centers and higher and secondary specialized educational institutions in the direction of Islam are being opened.

There are 16 religious denominations in the country, and the number of religious organizations that have passed state registration is 2,346, of which 2,149 are Islamic and 197 are various non-Islamic denominations. The activities of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, the international research centers of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, and Imam Maturidi, Mir Arab High Madrasah in Bukhara, Scientific School of Hadith in Samarkand should be emphasized.

Singapore's President Halimah Yacob noted that the international community recognizes Uzbekistan's advanced initiatives in religious tolerance. An explicit confirmation is that a special resolution “Enlightenment and religious tolerance” was adopted in December 2018, proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the plenary session of the UN General Assembly.

The leaders of religious denominations emphasized the results of reforms in religious freedom.

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Guzal Sattorova, photos by Nosirjon Khaydarov, UzA