WRITTEN QUESTION E-2140/03 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Violation of freedom of religion in Uzbekistan.
Date: 2003-06-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Uzbekistan, cooperation agreement (EU), freedom of religious beliefs, protection of minorities, religious group

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/385

In view of the foregoing, and of the excellent cooperation existing between the European Union and
Belarus in economic and trade matters:

(cid:1) Is the Commission aware of the facts stated here?

(cid:1) What initiatives, in the field of cooperation, might represent a serious and effective means of inducing

Belarus to uphold freedom of religion?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2139/03 and E-2183/03
given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2003)

At the outset it is worth recalling that in September 1997 the Council concluded that the EC and their
Member States would conclude neither the interim agreement nor the Partnership and Co-operation
Agreement (PCA) with Belarus and that the implementation of Community and Member states technical
assistance programmes would be halted, except in the case of humanitarian or regional projects or those
which directly support the democratisation process.

The suspension of the ratification of the PCA and the freezing of interim agreement strongly limits trade
and economic relations between the Union and Belarus.

Member States and the Commission are aware of the law on religion introduced last November 2002 in
Belarus, and are deeply concerned about some of its provisions and the way it is applied. The Union has
also expressed these concerns in the context of the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE), of which Belarus is a member. The Commission is disturbed by the two cases referred to by the
Honourable Member.

The Commission would like to reiterate that it attaches great importance to the rights of freedom of
religion, belief and expression. The Union has repeatedly affirmed that human rights and democratisation
must form an integral part of all political dialogues with third countries. Religious freedom, as one of the
fundamental human rights, as well as the rights of religious minorities are thus addressed through the
Union’s bilateral political dialogues, and, when appropriate, through démarches and public declarations, as
well as through Union’s action in fora such as the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights or
the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.

The Commission remains committed to support freedom of religion and Human Rights in Belarus, in close
co-operation with Member States, the Council of Europe, OSCE and the United Nations and will continue
to raise the issue with Belarus in all possible fora. The Commission is not aware of any further initiative,
within the limit of the cooperation framework, which could constitute a serious and effective instrument
to make Belarus respect freedom of religion.

(2004/C 88 E/0392)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2140/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(26 June 2003)

Subject: Violation of freedom of religion in Uzbekistan

four Jehovah’s Witnesses suffered physical violence at

In May 2003,
local authority
representatives near Kagan police station, having been caught praying in the street. One of them was left
unconscious and another, according to the medical report, suffered damage to the skull caused by blows to
the head. The police deny that the four were victims of violence. The courts are undecided as to whether
to pursue criminal or administrative proceedings against the four.

the hands of

C 88 E/386

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Two Jehovah’s Witnesses, Shukhrat Ashurov and Alisher Argeliyev, were investigated under the code of
administrative offences, leading to a police raid of the flat of one of the two in which some of their
materials were confiscated (the Koran, the New Testament and the Bible). Ashurov stated that the books
had been brought into Uzbekistan legally, but Khusan Imanaliyev of the Anti-Terrorism and International
Affairs Department of the district of Gazalkent justified the action by stating that the two, although not
considered to be terrorists, were, on the basis of the evidence found, guilty of proselytism, which is a crime
under Uzbek law.

Bakhtier Tuichiev, a Pentecostal pastor, has been trying to have his church in Andijan registered with the
local authorities for about a year. Tuichiev received the authorisation from his district in February 2002,
but the central administration has refused to register the request, repeatedly delaying the decision for
scarcely credible reasons. In January and April of this year, Tuichiev was warned of possible administrative
proceedings against him if he continued to exercise religious activity without authorisation (which has
been requested but not granted). The church is under strict and continuous surveillance by police officers.

Last September, a group of people who claimed to be BBC and CNN journalists visited Tuichiev, but it is
likely that they were in fact officers of the National Security Service (ex KGB).

In view of the excellent relations that exist between the EU and Uzbekistan in terms of economic and trade
cooperation, can the Commission state:

(cid:1) whether it is aware of these facts; and

(cid:1) what initiatives, within the limits of the cooperation relationship, could constitute a serious and

effective instrument to make Uzbekistan respect freedom of religion?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2003)

The Commission is fully aware of the very difficult conditions facing religious minorities in Uzbekistan.

The EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and Co-operation Agreement provides an appropriate framework for the
discussion of such issues.

The Commission attaches great importance to the rights of freedom of religion, belief and expression. This
is a fundamental human right and as such is enshrined in a number of international instruments including
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18), the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (Article 18), the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 9). In addition, the Union Charter
of fundamental rights, which guides the Commission’s external action in this field, makes clear that
everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 10) and that cultural,
religious and linguistic diversity should be respected.

The Union has repeatedly affirmed that human rights and democratisation must form an integral part of
our political dialogue with third countries. Religious freedom as a fundamental human right as well as the
rights of religious minorities are thus addressed through the Union’s bilateral political relations, and, when
appropriate, through démarches and public declarations, as well as through multilateral in fora such as the
United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly
and the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The Commission will continue to raise this question with the Uzbek authorities wherever the opportunity
arises.