ISMI and U.S. NGO “Love Your Neighbor Community” Sign Memorandum

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Today, the II International Forum “Dialogue of Declarations” began in Tashkent. The forum brings together about 50 leading scholars of religion, theologians, experts, and high-ranking officials from 15 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Central Asian states.

Welcome addresses were delivered by Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISMI); Presidential Advisor Ruslanbek Davletov; Yusuf Aldobey, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for Political Affairs; Sodiq Safoyev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan; LYNC representative Chris Saiple; Sodiq Toshboev, Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs of Uzbekistan; and U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick.

During the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between ISMI and the U.S. NGO “Love Your Neighbor Community” (LYNC). The document will provide a legal framework for further collaboration to promote freedom of religion and religious tolerance. Special attention will be given to cooperation within the framework of the UN General Assembly special resolution “Education and Religious Tolerance,” proposed by the President of Uzbekistan in 2018.

Commenting on the memorandum, LYNC head Wade Kutzak emphasized that “our cooperation with ISMI is not just about discussing good ideas, but about the practical development of how these ideas can and should be implemented in society.” In this context, he noted that the “Dialogue of Declarations” forum in Tashkent is “not just a conversation, but a practical implementation of models from Uzbekistan and other countries in the field of strengthening religious tolerance.”

The forum is organized by ISMI in partnership with LYNC, with support from the Committee on Religious Affairs, the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, and the Samarkand regional administration.

LYNC was founded in the United States in 2017. In partnership with government bodies, civic initiatives, and religious communities, LYNC promotes freedom of conscience, responsible citizenship, mutual trust, and interaction among diverse social groups.