Press Release
Regarding the Appointment of a New Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan for Religious and Educational Affairs
(Translated)

The appointment of Muzaffar Kamilov as Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan for Religious and Educational Affairs once again confirms that the fundamental direction of the state's policy toward religious affairs has not changed. Replacing individuals in official positions does not constitute a genuine solution for Muslims so long as the state's political approach toward religion remains unchanged.

Over recent years, much has been said about reforms in the religious sphere, and the easing of certain restrictions has been announced. However, the fundamental issue, the place of Islam in the life of society and the state, remains unchanged. Religion continues to be confined within the boundaries defined by the state, and the policy of subjecting religion to state control remains the prevailing approach.

Accordingly, we affirm that genuine reform in religious and educational affairs cannot be achieved merely by replacing officials, but rather through a fundamental change in the policy itself. Foremost among such changes is the abolition of restrictions that prevent those under the age of eighteen from receiving religious education or participating in Friday prayers. Likewise, parents raising their children upon faith, teaching them what is lawful and unlawful, instilling noble moral values, and helping them memorize the Noble Qur'an must not be treated as criminals. Rather, such efforts should be regarded as a great contribution to the advancement of society and the strengthening of its moral stability.

Furthermore, the state's monopoly over the teaching and instruction of Islam is unacceptable. Muslims have the right to freely choose where and from whom their children receive instruction in the Qur'an and the Islamic sciences. The true interest of society lies in encouraging the spread of knowledge, not in restricting or suppressing it. By contrast, certain activities supported by the state, including beer festivals and similar events promoting immorality and corruption, directly contribute to the erosion of the moral fabric of society.

We also believe it is necessary to conduct fair and independent reviews of the cases of individuals imprisoned because of religious education or religious activities, to immediately release all those whose fundamental right to liberty has been violated, and to take the necessary measures to compensate them for the harm they have suffered.

The state's primary duty is not to suppress belief or wage war against religious education, but rather to protect religious values and beliefs, which are among the legitimate human rights of the people. The real danger to society does not lie in teaching the Islamic sciences, but in the spread of an environment that leads young people toward vice, such as fornication, drugs, gambling, alcohol addiction, and moral decadence. Likewise, anyone who promotes obscenity or seeks to normalize pornographic and immoral content within society, regardless of the field in which they operate, should be held accountable. Combating these phenomena and taking effective measures to eliminate them must be among the foremost priorities of every healthy society.

We further affirm that attempting to address religious issues through repressive measures will not strengthen trust within society; rather, it will deepen the gap of trust between the state and the people. True stability cannot be achieved through force, but through the establishment of justice, respect for fundamental human rights, and the preservation of human dignity.

Islam is not merely a collection of individual acts of worship; rather, it is a comprehensive divine system that regulates the affairs of society, the economy, education, the judiciary, foreign policy, and governance. Therefore, restricting Islam solely to its spiritual or devotional aspects constitutes an assault upon its divine message and an attempt to fragment and distort its true nature.

[وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ]

“And do not say, concerning that which your tongues falsely describe: 'This is lawful and this is forbidden,' so as to fabricate lies against Allah. Indeed, those who fabricate lies against Allah will never prosper.” [Surah An-Nahl :116]

We once again emphasize that real change is not achieved merely by replacing officeholders, but when the very standard by which society is governed is transformed. So long as the rulings revealed by Allah (swt) are not the foundation upon which the life of the state and society is built, simply replacing individuals—whether advisers, ministers, or other officials, will never bring about the justice and stability to which Muslims aspire.

Islam is not only the path of salvation for Muslims in Uzbekistan; it is the only way capable of delivering all of humanity from the darkness of Western civilization into the light of guidance. It is the religion brought by the Messenger of Allah (saw) as a complete system for life.

Allah Almighty says: [وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ] “And We have not sent thee but as a mercy for all peoples.” [Surah Al-Anbiya:107].

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Uzbekistan