ISLAMABAD: A leading Uzbek researcher Bekzod Ochilov strongly believes that ensuring interfaith harmony is a key element in maintaining peace and stability in the modern world confronting geopolitical tensions and ideological conflicts.
The expert affiliated with the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies in an article said in today’s challenging world inter-confessional harmony is being undermined and social polarization is increasing.
He noted due to economic and political instability and distorted perceptions of cultures and beliefs, religious violence is escalating in some parts of the world.
The expert was of the view that the main reason for the problem of growing religiously motivated violence in the world is a lack of understanding and respect between people of different faiths.
He added that misinformation creates favorable conditions for increasing interfaith mistrust and deepening social and political divisions.
He viewed maintaining a constructive and open dialogue between different religious and cultural groups, is a major source for maintaining peace and stability.
Ochilov believed that to ensure interfaith harmony it is necessary to encourage dialogue between different faiths, as well as promote mutual understanding and respect.
He said sharing knowledge about each other’s religious beliefs and launching common programs could be important factors in strengthening interfaith harmony.
The expert added Uzbekistan which is home to representatives of more than 130 nations, inter-confessional harmony is considered to be one of the most recognized in the world.
Ochilov said people of different religions have peacefully coexisted in Uzbekistan for centuries.
He referred to a number of reforms introduced by the Uzbek government to maintain the tradition of friendliness and tolerance.
The researcher said it is the state that assumed responsibility for ensuring inter-confessional harmony and maintaining a balance of interests in Uzbekistan since its independence in 1991.
He said special emphasis has been placed on education, ensuring religious freedoms, expanding the rights of believers and a new approach to combating extremism in Uzbekistan.
The expert said an important step was strengthening of the legislative basis of state policy in the religious sphere and ensuring freedom of religion.
He said although more than 95 percent of the population in Uzbekistan is Muslim, special attention is paid to religious minorities and their integration into society.
The expert said a feedback mechanism has been established to maintain interfaith dialogue in the society. He said the state in the Central Asian nation actively coordinates the establishment of mutual respect between citizens of different religions and between religious organizations.
Ochilov said special attention is paid in the country to Islamic education and science, as well as the study and dissemination of humanistic and peace-loving principles, ideas of tolerance of the religion of Islam.
The researcher said the centers of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, Imam Matrudi, as well as the Center for Islamic Civilization have been created in Uzbekistan to promote religious harmony.
He said as Uzbekistan has significantly intensified international cooperation to ensure interreligious harmony and religious tolerance, a special resolution “Enlightenment and religious tolerance” proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly which was unanimously approved by all UN member states.
The expert from the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies said the “Bukhara Declaration” adopted at the end of the UN forum, was recognized as an official document of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.
He said the document called on representatives of all religions to promote a culture of tolerance and respect for human dignity.
Ochilov viewed the experience of Uzbekistan in the field of ensuring interfaith harmony and religious tolerance can be studied as an effective example.
He concluded the way of life of the Uzbek people, which has been formed over the centuries, continues to serve as a solid basis for establishing dialogue between peoples and interfaith tolerance in ensuring the stability of society and the development of the Central Asian state.
