Former imam fined for speaking about family matters without obtaining permission from Religious Affairs Committee

On May 23, public activist, former imam Shavkat Hasan was charged with illegal preparation and distribution of religious content materials. In accordance with Article 184-2 of the Administrative Responsibility Code, he is fined 20 times the base calculation unit (6.6 million soums).

"On May 11, I was called to the Shaikhontohur district department of Internal Affairs. Law enforcement officers selected 6 videos posted on my telegram channel and sent them to the Committee on Religious Affairs for examination.

According to the experts' conclusion, it was found that my videos do not contain fanaticism, terrorism, or ideas calling for religious enmity. But the materials were released without the expert opinions of the [Religious Affairs] Committee.

Despite my many years of official work in this sphere, I didn't even know that I should have taken an expert opinion on such matters as this. I have heard that many imams were also fined under this very article," says Shavkat Hasan in his video message.

According to his words, he has been engaged in official religious activities in the system of the Muslim Board for many years. In 2014, he graduated from the Tashkent Islamic Institute and from 2014 to 2018, he served as imam at the "Olimjon Ota" mosque in the Bostanliq district.

After that, he worked for some time in the "Waqf" public charity fund of the Muslim Board. From 2021 until now, he is an assistant imam at the central mosque in Chirchik.

"Since 2014, I have worked in various commissions for the reconciliation of families. The topics we raised were only aimed at reforming marital relations, raising the status of women in society, and preserving the family. Based on our own values, I proved and explained our statements with verses and hadiths.

I think it wouldn't have hurt this much if the expert commission found my videos to be an incitement to some kind of evil, but they decided to fine me just for not consulting them before publishing. It is unfair," said Shavkat Hasan in a short interview with a Kun.uz reporter.