Religious freedom conditions in Uzbekistan continue to deteriorate as the government retreats from previous reforms. Authorities have increasingly invoked an expanding and restrictive legal framework to target Muslims who deviate from the state’s preferred interpretation of Islam as well as members of other religious groups. The state routinely penalizes peaceful activities, including religious expression and education, through detention, fines, and prison sentences.  

Religious freedom conditions in Turkmenistan remain terrible as the government holds tight control over the religious sphere, criminalizing and viewing all independent religious activity with profound suspicion and backing that distrust with a large surveillance apparatus that monitors the religious activities of all communities within the country and abroad. Religious groups must navigate a restrictive legal framework, including intrusive registration criteria.  

The regime of President Emomali Rahmon tightly controls nearly all aspects of religious life in Tajikistan. The government consistently uses arbitrary extremism charges against religious minorities, particularly targeting Muslims who deviate from the state’s preferred interpretation of Islam. Such disfavored communities include ethnic Pamiri Ismaili Shi’a Muslims and individuals accused of affiliating with banned religious groups.