Censorship of Religious Literature In Uzbekistan

Earlier this week, Forum 18 reported that in Uzbekistan, postal authorities routinely open parcels of religious books and magazines sent from abroad and send the publications to the state Religious Affairs Committee. The Committee decides whether or not to ban the title, writes to the sender and the failed recipient to explain why titles have been rejected, and sometimes returns them at Uzbek Post Office expense. Religious literature is also often confiscated by customs officers at Uzbekistan's land borders, and by police in raids on private homes. The Religious Affairs Committee permits limited quantities of religious literature to be printed or imported by religious communities that have a registered centralized organization.