On December 7, 2020, the US State Department published an official statement according to which Secretary of State Michael Pompeo withdrew Uzbekistan from the so-called. «Special checklist» in the field of religious freedom, thereby recognizing the significant progress of the Republic in the field of ensuring freedom of religion.
Uzbekistan qualifies as a country in which freedom of religion is fully ensured.
It is deeply significant that the State Department’s decision coincided with the celebration of Constitution Day, the 28th anniversary of the adoption of the fundamental law. This became the recognition of the deep democratic reforms initiated by President Sh.M.Mirziyoyev aimed at ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as strengthening interethnic and interfaith harmony in the country.
In his statement, Michael Pompeo noted that Uzbekistan has been removed from the “Special Checklist” based on «Significant, concrete progress» made by the Government of the Republic over the past year.
US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback believes that the Secretary of State’s decision is the result of unwavering commitment, hard work, changes and reforms in the area of ensuring religious freedom, carried out directly under the leadership of President Sh.M.Mirziyoyev.