WASHINGTON—Following the release of the 2017 International Religious Freedom Report by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, and the announcement that the State Department will host a Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom this July, Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) issued the following statement:
“I commend President Trump, Secretary Pompeo, and Ambassador Brownback for their strong commitment to religious freedom at home and abroad. Religious freedom is a fundamental right enshrined in our constitution; it is also vital to our national security and economic prosperity.
“I hope Secretary Pompeo will consider inviting the Government of Uzbekistan to participate in the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom. Uzbekistan—like several other countries in Central Asia—has been among the world’s worst violators of religious freedom. However, the new government led by President Mirziyoyev has taken significant steps to bring Uzbekistan into compliance with its international commitments to respect religious freedom, and we should encourage further progress.”
In February 2018, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief issued comprehensive recommendations to help Uzbekistan improve its protection of religious freedom. In May 2018, Uzbekistan’s parliament released a “road map” directing government offices to implement all of the recommendations within one year.
The annual State Department International Religious Freedom Report describes the status of religious freedom in every country. The report covers government policies violating religious belief and practices of groups, religious denominations and individuals, and U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world.
