Religious Tolerance and Interethnic Harmony in the Digital Age Take Center Stage

An international scientific and practical conference entitled “Current Issues of Religious Tolerance and Interethnic Harmony in the Digital World” was held in Tashkent, bringing together policymakers, scholars, and international experts to discuss one of the most pressing challenges of the digital era.

The prestigious event was jointly organized by the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the SCO Public Diplomacy Centre in Uzbekistan, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Regional Office for Central Asia, and the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Compatriots Abroad.

The conference was attended by members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, representatives of international organizations, foreign experts, university professors, leaders of religious denominations, and representatives of youth organizations.

During the plenary session, participants heard presentations by leading experts on key issues related to the conference agenda. In accordance with the conference program, Dr. Baxtiyor Tursunov, Senior Research Fellow at the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center, delivered a presentation entitled “Promoting the Principle of Tolerance in Islam and the National Values of the Uzbek People”.

In his presentation, Dr. Tursunov demonstrated, through scholarly evidence, that the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and tolerance have long been deeply rooted in Uzbekistan’s national and religious traditions. He emphasized that the rich intellectual and spiritual legacy of the country’s great scholars – particularly Imam al-Bukhari – continues to play a vital role in promoting the universal values of humanity and religious tolerance, especially in today’s digital age.

“Today, growing tensions between certain states and military-political actors pose serious challenges to peace and stability. This makes it increasingly important to cultivate well-rounded individuals and strengthen such values as humanity, tolerance, and social solidarity. The principle of tolerance means enabling people of different religions, ethnicities, and nationalities to live together peacefully while recognizing and respecting every individual’s freedom of belief”, Dr. Tursunov stated.

Participants also developed practical recommendations aimed at strengthening religious tolerance and interethnic harmony in the digital space, enhancing young people’s information literacy, and advancing international cooperation in these areas to a new level.

The conference marked another important step in New Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to uphold human dignity, promote peaceful coexistence, and reinforce social cohesion through constructive dialogue and international collaboration.