Uzbekistan’s Experience Recognized at International Forum in Dagestan

As previously reported, research fellows of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center are actively participating in the 5th International Youth Forum, “School of Young Theologians,” currently being held in Makhachkala, Dagestan.

On the following day of the forum, Bayozkhon Makhmudov delivered a presentation entitled “The Significance of Theology in the Era of Globalization,” highlighting the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan’s religious and educational sectors, as well as the key stages in the development of religious education in the country.

In his presentation, the researcher emphasized the substantial progress Uzbekistan has made since gaining independence in improving state–religious relations, safeguarding citizens’ freedom of conscience, and preserving the country’s rich Islamic intellectual and spiritual heritage.

He outlined the development of the legal framework governing religious education, noting that the revised Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations,” adopted in 2021, established a new legal foundation for the sector.

Particular attention was devoted to the unprecedented transformations and comprehensive reforms launched in the religious and educational spheres in 2017. The speaker highlighted the significant expansion of specialized secondary and higher religious education institutions, including the establishment of the School of Hadith Studies in Samarkand, higher madrasas in Bukhara and Termez, and the International Islamic Academy in Tashkent.

Another important achievement highlighted during the presentation was the introduction of a modular education system enabling imams and religious leaders to pursue higher education without interrupting their professional responsibilities.

Makhmudov further emphasized that the establishment of international research centers named after Imam al-Bukhari, Imam al-Maturidi, Imam al-Tirmidhi, and Bahauddin Naqshband, alongside the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, has elevated scholarly and academic activities to a new level.

He also noted that the introduction of legally regulated courses in Qur’anic recitation and Tajwid represents an important step toward meeting the religious and educational needs of the population.

In concluding his presentation, the researcher underscored that Uzbekistan’s contemporary legal framework provides a carefully balanced approach to upholding the principles of a secular state, guaranteeing freedom of conscience, and protecting the nation’s religious and cultural heritage.

He further stressed that the regulation of religious education and the prevention of unauthorized and unsupervised religious instruction serve as important legal safeguards against the spread of destructive and extremist ideologies.

The presentation attracted considerable interest among forum participants.

On the sidelines of the forum, the Center’s research fellow also gave an interview to Novosti Dagestana (“Dagestan News”), a news program broadcast by NNT Television, one of Dagestan’s leading media outlets.

During the interview, he emphasized that international academic gatherings of this kind play a vital role in strengthening friendship, mutual understanding, harmony, and cooperation among nations and peoples.

The full interview is available at the following link: https://t.me/newsnnt/13330

For reference: NNT (Nashe Natsionalnoye Televideniye — “Our National Television”) is one of Dagestan’s leading independent television channels. Operating since 2014, it has been dedicated to providing objective coverage of the region’s national and spiritual values, cultural heritage, and social life.