Uzbekistan compared Protestants to terrorists and drug addicts
President Islam Karimov wants to divert attention from socio-economic problems to other spheres, such as religion. People are trying to find food to survive, while the state does not know who to blame for the problem.
Uzbekistan Compares Protestants to Terrorists and Drug Addicts Uzbekistan continues to use state media to stir up intolerance towards religious minorities and to suppress freedom of thought, conscience and faith.
In one program on local television, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Adventists, Presbyterians and Methodists were described as engaged in “illegal missionary activity.” This was then followed by a statement that this is “a global problem along with religious dogmatism, fundamentalism, terrorism and drug addiction.”
A Protestant shown in the film told Forum 18 that militia footage shot during militia inspections of worship services was used. “It is very unpleasant, I feel that I have no private life,” the Protestant stated in an interview with Forum 18. “The believers in our church were angry about this.” The militia stated that the footage was “necessary for further investigation.”
The film gave fresh impetus to religious intolerance. A member of one of the religious minorities confirmed that some people now “fear going outside where they live, for fear of being attacked.” However, he told Forum 18, “people who understand a little of what is happening in the country sympathize with us.” A state television representative responsible for the film was unable to explain to Forum 18 why he had participated in violating human rights.
The film claimed that citizens of Uzbekistan “have low political awareness, which makes them easy targets for missionaries.” Speaking to others about one’s faith is a criminal offence in Uzbekistan, in violation of all international human rights obligations undertaken by that country.
Samarkand Protestants told Forum 18 that ethnic Uzbeks from local congregations now fear that they will be punished by the regional authorities and residents of the region. Regional committees play a major role in suppressing citizens’ religious freedoms.
“Such media campaigns have occurred in the past,” one Protestant told Forum 18. “But this time the film was more intense and concentrated on missionaries.” In his view, the state has been steadily increasing pressure on religious organizations in recent years.
The director general of Uzbekistan’s national television and radio company, Said Akhmedov, refused on 23 May to discuss the film with Forum 18.
One human rights defender told Forum 18 from Tashkent that he thinks the film was commissioned by state bodies: “President Islam Karimov wants to divert attention from socio-economic problems to other spheres, such as religion. People are trying to find food to survive, while the state does not know who to blame for the problem,” he believes.
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