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OSCE round table on freedom of religion and belief held in Tajikistan
DUSHANBE 6 February 2002
DUSHANBE, 6 February 2002 - A round table meeting organized by the OSCE and the Tajik Government on 1 February in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, concluded that the situation regarding the freedom of religion and belief was in general acceptable in Tajikistan.
The main objective of the round table meeting, which was jointly organized by the OSCE Mission to Tajikistan, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Committee on Religions Affairs of the Tajik Government, was to prepare the Tajik delegation for participation in a Central Asian conference on freedom of religion and belief, to be held on 15 and 16 February in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan.
Many participants stressed the role of the Islamic Revival Party as a safeguard to peace and stability in post-conflict Tajikistan. At present, Tajikistan is the only country in Central Asia, where such a party exists and is guaranteed by the constitution.
The open and fruitful dialogue revealed a general satisfaction with the current level of freedom of religion in Tajikistan and with the committee on religious affairs. The religious communities stressed their good co-operation with the committee's consultative council set up two years ago to facilitate co-operation and solve disputes within the communities and with regard to their relations to Tajik authorities.
"We have a mixed impression of the level of tolerance of local authorities when it comes to registration of religious communities", said Marc Gilbert, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Tajikistan, pointing to pointing to Kurghonteppa in the south of Tajikistan, where the registration of an evangelic church has been pending for more than a year. "I welcome any effort aimed at generalizing an approach of tolerance", he stated.
The round table participants stressed the necessity:
The round table attracted a large audience including more than 40 representatives of the presidential apparatus and ministries and heads of 17 religious communities. Local non-governmental organizations and political parties were also represented.
The conclusions of this preparatory round table will be presented at the forthcoming conference on freedom of religion and belief in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan.
The main objective of the round table meeting, which was jointly organized by the OSCE Mission to Tajikistan, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Committee on Religions Affairs of the Tajik Government, was to prepare the Tajik delegation for participation in a Central Asian conference on freedom of religion and belief, to be held on 15 and 16 February in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan.
Many participants stressed the role of the Islamic Revival Party as a safeguard to peace and stability in post-conflict Tajikistan. At present, Tajikistan is the only country in Central Asia, where such a party exists and is guaranteed by the constitution.
The open and fruitful dialogue revealed a general satisfaction with the current level of freedom of religion in Tajikistan and with the committee on religious affairs. The religious communities stressed their good co-operation with the committee's consultative council set up two years ago to facilitate co-operation and solve disputes within the communities and with regard to their relations to Tajik authorities.
"We have a mixed impression of the level of tolerance of local authorities when it comes to registration of religious communities", said Marc Gilbert, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Tajikistan, pointing to pointing to Kurghonteppa in the south of Tajikistan, where the registration of an evangelic church has been pending for more than a year. "I welcome any effort aimed at generalizing an approach of tolerance", he stated.
The round table participants stressed the necessity:
- to strive for a simplified procedure for registration of religious communities;
- to raise awareness among law enforcement bodies and local authorities on freedom of religion issues;
- to consider founding a special information bulletin on religious issues.
The round table attracted a large audience including more than 40 representatives of the presidential apparatus and ministries and heads of 17 religious communities. Local non-governmental organizations and political parties were also represented.
The conclusions of this preparatory round table will be presented at the forthcoming conference on freedom of religion and belief in Jalalabad, Kyrgyzstan.