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Beginning in 2006, Uzbekistan was designated a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for religious freedom by the State Department. However, starting in 2016, Uzbekistan’s leaders have ushered in unprecedented political, social, and economic reforms which have attracted worldwide attention. In July 2018, an official Uzbek delegation visited Washington, DC, to attend the State Department’s first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. IGE and the Uzbekistan embassy co-hosted a panel presentation at the National Press Club where Uzbek cabinet ministers and parliament leaders announced major initiatives to reform legislation and government policies to improve religious freedom in the country.

In September 2018, IGE led a delegation of U.S. Muslim and Christian religious leaders, scholars, and civil society representatives to Uzbekistan to meet with government officials, academics, and religious leaders. During the visit. IGE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Uzbekistan president’s think tank and a local NGO to partner on research, conferences, workshops, and delegation visits to build religious freedom in the country. IGE is committed to walking alongside partners in Uzbekistan to deepen and broaden this progress.

In December 2018, the State Department removed Uzbekistan from the CPC list in recognition of the “substantial changes” that have been made. Once again, IGE and the Uzbekistan embassy co-hosted a panel discussion at the National Press Club, “Uzbekistan: An Emerging Model for the Muslim World—Marking Uzbekistan’s Progress in Advancing Religious Freedom.” IGE looks forward to walking alongside the government and people of Uzbekistan to further build upon this encouraging progress.