RECOMMENDATIONS

To the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

• Repeal Article 14 of the May 1998 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations;

• Repeal other provisions of the May 1998 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations and corresponding amendments contained in the May 1998 Law on the Introduction of Amendments and Additions to Several Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan that do not comply with treaty obligations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR);

• Pass legislation that compels state university charters and codes of conduct to be consistent with the constitution and international human rights obligations, including the right to manifest one's religious beliefs;

• Immediately reinstate those students mentioned in this report and all others expelled because of their religious attire or appearance;

• Cease the arbitrary harassment and surveillance of religious students;

• Reinstate any teacher or professor fired or demoted because of his or her religious dress or facial hair or because he or she exercised the right to freedom of expression;

• Respect the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.

To All Foreign Governments:

• Call on the government of Uzbekistan to cease punitive actions against pious and independent Muslims, including students who wear headscarves and beards;

• Call for the repeal of article 14 of the May 1998 law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations;

• Call on the government of Uzbekistan to immediately reinstate those students who were expelled from schools and universities because of their religious attire or appearance;

• Call on the government of Uzbekistan to restore the positions of teachers and professors fired or demoted because of their religious attire or exercise of their right to free expression;

• Consider excluding from academic or any other exchange programs rectors or high-level Ministry of Education officials who engage in violations of academic freedom;

• Disqualify from programs university rectors who continue to punish students for exercising their right to freedom of conscience.

To the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance:

• Undertake a mission to Uzbekistan to investigate discriminatory expulsions of students and other acts of religious discrimination resulting from the government's punitive campaign against independent Muslims.

To the European Union:

• Use the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council to signal that full implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) will be conditioned on Uzbekistan's achievement of concrete improvements in respect for human rights, including the right to freedom of religion. The PCA's trade and other benefits are based on compliance with international human rights standards;

• Raise human rights problems, including infringements on freedom of religion, in all bilateral consultations under the PCA, including interparliamentary meetings, making clear that without substantial progress on human rights, Uzbekistan will face suspension of its PCA.

To the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe:

• Call on the Central Asia Liaison office in Tashkent to report to the Permanent Council on cases of discriminatory expulsions of students;

• Fully implement recommendations contained in the report of the March 1999 Supplemental Meeting on Freedom of Religion and Belief;

• Raise these cases of violation of religious freedom in bilateral discussions with the government of Uzbekistan;

• Include infringement on religious freedom in the agenda for discussion at government-NGO meetings organized in the context of the ODIHR civil society assistance program.

To the United States Government:

• Pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the U.S. government should designate Uzbekistan as a "foreign country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated violations of religious freedom," such that the President is required to take action as specified by the law, and to make every reasonable effort to conclude a binding agreement with the Uzbek government concerning the cessation of such violations;

• U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Robert Seiple should travel to Uzbekistan to underscore the importance the U.S. places on religious freedom in Uzbekistan, to urge the government to repeal article 14 of the May 1998 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, and to call on the government to reinstate students expelled and teachers or administrators demoted or fired on account of their religious attire or exercise of their right of free expression.

To Members of the International Academic Community:

• Write to President Islam Karimov, Minister of Higher and Special Education Okil Solimov, Rector Damin Abdurakhimovich Asadov, Rector Nematullo Ibrohimovich Ibrohimov, Rector Turabek N. Dolimov, Rector Abdullaev and Dean Sharafiddinov, protesting the coercion and expulsions of students for exercise of their right to religious freedom.