Tashkent (AsiaNews/Forum 18) Unregistered religious activities are illegal in Uzbekistan; any believer caught praying or meditating in groupincluding in the privacy of the homeis liable for punishment.
All religious groups, Muslim groups includrf, are under government control. Muslims involved in unregistered groups are especially targeted for harsh treatment; they can be arrested and detained for years for allegedly "undermining the constitutional basis of the Uzbek Republic".
However, new religious groups are in a catch-22 situation since it is nearly impossible for them to be legally registered.
Missionary activity is banned as is religious proselytising. Anyone caught involved in either activity can be heavily fined or end up in prison.
Anyone who wants to teach religion must get a government licence.
The government also censors religious literature and bans its import.
The government even controls the numbers of pilgrims who can go on hajj to Makkah.
In 2005 the government's religious affairs committee allowed only 4,200 Uzbeks to make the pilgrimage even though some 6,000 had applied. What is more, pilgrims cannot travel on their own, but must fly Uzbek airlines to Madinah in one single group.
Uzbekistan has a population of about 26 million: 88 per cent Muslim (primarily Sunni), 9 per cent Orthodox, and 3 per cent other religions. Catholics are about 4,000. (PB)