Authorities launch Telegram bot flagging banned religious content

The service, known as “din.uzbbot,” was developed by the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Committee for Religious Affairs to help users identify prohibited religious content, verify whether materials have undergone official religious review, and obtain information on individuals or organizations banned under Uzbek law.

Kun.uz tested the bot to see how its various features work. One thing that may confuse users is its branding. Although officials call the platform “din.uzbbot,” its Telegram profile is displayed under the name “Xavfsiz bot” (“Safe Bot”).

The platform includes tools for checking restricted profiles, verifying religious literature, accessing lists of banned individuals and organizations, viewing licensed Umrah agencies, browsing official religious sources and legal documents, and submitting feedback or technical support requests.

Profile and literature searches

The "Check banned profiles" feature lets users search for specific people or accounts. If the Supreme Court has ruled that a profile should be banned, the system tells you which social media platform it's on, why it was restricted, and what's been recommended.

Kun.uz also tested the literature verification feature using Baxtiyor oila (“Happy Family”), a book by the late Sheikh Muhammad Sodiq Muhammad Yusuf.

The platform showed publication details and stated that the book had been approved following an official religious review.

Banned organizations and legal warnings

Another section contains lists of extremist and terrorist organizations, as well as individuals banned by court decisions.

Selecting an entry reveals additional information, including names, areas of activity, founding dates, and the grounds for the ban.

The bot also warns that producing, storing, distributing, or even “liking” prohibited materials may lead to criminal liability under articles of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code related to extremism, terrorism, and anti-constitutional activities.

Official sources and legal information

The service includes links to official religious resources, including the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Uzbekistan and its Fatwa Department.

According to the Committee for Religious Affairs, these sources are intended to provide reliable, verified information on religious issues and to help users avoid questionable content.

The legal section contains links to laws on freedom of conscience, extremism, and terrorism, as well as relevant provisions of the Criminal and Administrative Codes.

Licensed Umrah agencies

The platform also provides a list of 14 travel agencies licensed to organize Umrah pilgrimages in Uzbekistan, along with their contact details.

Users can also submit feedback, suggestions, and technical reports through a separate support section.

Last month, Uzbekistan’s Supreme Court published an updated list of online resources and materials identified as extremist, terrorist, or radical religious content banned in the country.

As of April 6, 2026, Uzbekistan’s list of banned online resources and materials included 1,837 entries.