Tashkent (TDI): From September 10 to 13, 2025, the cities of Tashkent and Samarkand will host the Second International Dialogue of Declarations Forum, an event dedicated to promoting interfaith harmony, religious tolerance, and the protection of religious freedoms.
The Forum is being organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the American NGO Love Your Neighbor Community (LYNC), and with the support of the Committee on Religious Affairs, the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Samarkand Regional Hokimiyat.
In the lead-up to the Forum, Shafoat Nurullayeva, Deputy Director of the ISRS, highlighted the significance of the event in an interview, stressing that Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts in this field are attracting growing international attention.
“To promote the ideas of enlightenment and a culture of tolerance, and to ensure religious freedoms, the international community has held several forums since 2016, in Marrakesh, Makkah, Jakarta, Potomac, and Punta del Este,” she said.
Nurullayeva added, “Uzbekistan responded to this call and made its contribution by organizing, in May 2022, the first High-Level Dialogue of Declarations Forum.”
The first Forum, which brought together leading theologians, legal experts, and religious scholars from across the globe, resulted in the adoption of the Bukhara Declaration.
The document was later recognized as an official record of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly and endorsed by the Oliy Majlis, Uzbekistan’s parliament.
According to Nurullayeva, this milestone confirmed the importance and international recognition of Uzbekistan’s model for building a tolerant society that includes people of different nationalities, religions, and beliefs.
She explained that the upcoming Forum is not only a continuation of that momentum but a demonstration of Uzbekistan’s firm commitment to the principles outlined in past international declarations.
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“The regularity of the event and the wide international composition of its participants testify to the high recognition of our state policy in ensuring freedom of religion and interfaith harmony,” Nurullayeva noted, adding “It also reaffirms Uzbekistan’s openness and its goal to elevate interfaith dialogue to a higher moral level.”
This year’s Forum is expected to draw approximately 50 participants from 15 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and several Central Asian states.
Among the high-level attendees will be Yousef Muhammad Al-Dobeay, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation; Abdul Rahman Al-Zaid, Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim World League; and Robert Rehak, Chair of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance.
In addition, video addresses will be delivered by Mohammad Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Council for Fatwa.
Over the course of the four-day event, plenary sessions will focus on challenges countries face in safeguarding religious freedom, as well as the role of civil society institutions in promoting interfaith harmony.
A number of side events will be held, including three certification seminars for Uzbek religious leaders and officials, a session dedicated to women engaged in religious affairs, and presentations of best international practices in interfaith dialogue and societal tolerance.
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According to Nurullayeva, the Forum aims to address three major tasks. First, it will inform the international community about the large-scale reforms Uzbekistan has implemented in the religious sphere.
She pointed to the 2021 revision of the national Law On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, which was developed in line with both the needs of Uzbek society and international human rights standards.
“This law incorporated recommendations from authoritative organizations such as the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights,” she said.
In February 2025, these principles were further codified in the Concept for Ensuring Citizens’ Freedom of Conscience and State Policy in the Religious Sphere, which outlines the state’s approach to religious freedom in the modern context.
The second major aim of the Forum is to share Uzbekistan’s experience in maintaining interfaith and interethnic harmony.
“It is important to inform the international community about the efforts being made to ensure a stable and inclusive environment for all citizens,” said Nurullayeva. “Uzbekistan’s approach, rooted in centuries of peaceful coexistence and cultural diversity, reflects democratic principles of secularism, freedom, equality, and social justice.”
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She noted that foreign scholars and religious experts are increasingly viewing Uzbekistan’s model as both demonstrative and practical—an example that can be studied and adapted in other multiethnic societies.
Third, the Forum will provide a space for dialogue on global experiences related to religious freedoms and coexistence in diverse societies. Nurullayeva said such discussions are essential to identifying and sharing effective practices, building mutual understanding, and fostering international cooperation.
As for the expected outcome of the Forum, participants plan to adopt a joint Appeal to the international community.
This document will call for the protection of religious minority rights, the elimination of discrimination based on religion, the promotion of religious education as a means of preventing violent extremism, the affirmation of religious freedom as a universal human right, and the encouragement of equality for all.
“We believe that the results of this Forum will make a meaningful contribution to strengthening religious tolerance, mutual respect, and the peaceful coexistence of diverse peoples,” Nurullayeva concluded.
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