Religious Education

One of the social institutes having an influence on the spiritual development of the individual is the religious education. As mentioned above only two religious institutions were functioning before independence. After 1991 they increased dramatically and the following institutions have been established:
Medrese Mulla Kirgiz in Namangan, Hadichai Kubro in Tashkent, Juybori Kalon in Bukhara, the Scientific Center Imam Al Bukhari, specializing in hadisas (Samarkand Viloyat), Tashkent Orthodox College, Samarkand Christian Protestant College, and others.
In 1995, for further study of the heritage of Islam, the International Center on Islamic Research was established in Tashkent.
On 7 April 1999, President Islam Karimov issued the Decree on Establishment of Tashkent Islamic University, which aims to prepare highly qualified religious experts on 2 levels - Masters and Bachelors, experts on the system of Islamic education, and scientific research of the heritage of the Imams Al Bukhari and al-Termizi, Bahauddin Naqshband and KHadji Akhmad Yassavi. On September 3, 1999 the official opening ceremony took place, attended by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov. More than 100 students of the above University have started their education in the faculties of History and Philosophy of Islam, Religious Legislation, Economy and Natural Sciences.
Nowadays, the adepts of different confessions in Uzbekistan having an opportunity to profess their religion openly and freely.
The religious organizations of the Republic act as independent subjects. They are allowed to have property, to possess land, to publish religious literature, to prepare specialists as needed, to arrange events, and to make pilgrimages to holy lands.
During the years of independence a number of international religious symposiums and conferences were carried out, as well as a lot of events dedicated to important dates and anniversaries of famous theologians and religious scholars:
- In 1995 the joint Christian-Muslim conference Sharing the Same Sky took place;
- In November 1996 the whole country celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Eparchial Directorate of the Russian Orthodox Church;
- In December 1996, Uzbek people met the 100th anniversary of the only Central Asian Lutheran Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Community of Uzbekistan;
- In September 1993 the 675th anniversary of Bahauddin Naqshbandi was celebrated;
- In November 1994 the 590th anniversary of Khodji Ahror Vali, and in November 1995, the 920th anniversary of Az-Zamahshari and the 85th jubilee of Nadjimiddin Kubro were carried out.
The reconstruction of old mosques and building of new ones reflects the high esteem and dedication to the religion of our ancestors. The Koran and Hadises are being published. Every year thousands of Muslims go on the Khadj - the pilgrimage to Holy Mecca. Independent Uzbekistan has brought the tradition of celebrating the oldest Muslim holidays, Ruza Hayit and Kurbon Khayit, back to its people, as well as the day of vernal equinox (Navruz).
With active participation of UNESCO, the anniversary of Mukhaddis Imam Al-Bukhari has been widely celebrated. A new memorial complex was built near by his Mausoleum.
UNESCO proclaimed the year of 2000 as the year of the 2700th anniversary of Avesto, and a complex of measures is being taken to study and promote the humanistic ideas common to all mankind reflected in this book.