Human rights group Forum 18 said the film ‘In the clutches of ignorance’ has been shown on Uzbek television before live coverage of the Euro 2008 football championship, "to attract the largest possible audience."
The first broadcast of the film made some members of religious minorities already "afraid to go out on the street where they live for fear of being persecuted." Forum 18 quoted Protestants attacked in the film as saying that after the second showing "the government is trying to stir up Muslims against Christians."
Following the first showing of the film at least one Baptist congregation was raided and banned
from meeting, Forum 18 said, citing local sources. One Baptist complained to Forum 18 that "broadcasting such a film amounts to incitement of religious hatred in our country."
CONTROVERSIAL LAW
It came as in neighboring Kazakhstan parliamentarians have begun a draft Religion Law, that Forum 18 said contains "many violations of international human rights commitments." The legislation reportedly includes penalties for "unregistered religious activity." In addition at least 50 adult citizens will be required to register as a local religious community, making it difficult for Christians worshipping in home churches to meet each other.
Besides, local religious groups will not have the right to engage in educational, publishing or missionary activity, according to the draft, seen by Forum 18.
In published remarks Kamal Burkhanov, who leads the Working Group on preparing the law defended the restrictions. "Do people go to the toilet on a bus? No, they go to a toilet. Therefore whoever needs to meet their religious needs should go to a synagogue, mosque or a church," he reportedly said.
NO SYMPATHY
Burkanov showed no sympathy for Christians, including Baptists, who are often fined for unregistered religious activity, Forum 18 said. "They should not violate the law." Burkhanov reportedly said authorities have not yet received a review of the law from Europe’s human rights watchdog, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), but said any criticism of the proposed legislation would be taken into account.
An official of the Association of Religious Organisations, Aleksandr Klyushev, said in a statement that the law will they will "need to do everything" in their power "to stop this law from being adopted."
There has been mounting international concern about the treatment of Christians and other minorities in former Soviet republics where officials allegedly often view them as a threat to their power base or Islam.
