Tashkent, Uzbekistan, April 7
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
Uzbek Customs Service thwarted smuggling of 13,600 pieces of religious literature in the first three months of this year, according to the State Customs Committee.
Various channels, including postage are used in the delivery of religious literature, the committee representative told Trend on April 7.
Since the beginning of the year, Uzbek customs have identified in total more than 280 cases of illegal movement of religious materials, which according to the relevant clauses of the Committee on Religious Affairs are prohibited to be imported into the territory of the republic.
At present, the said customs offenses are being investigated, SCC said.
The SCC recalled that in January, the Uzbek government adopted a decree on "The measures to perfect the activities of producing, importing and distributing media with religious content".
Production, import and distribution of media with religious content in Uzbekistan will only be allowed after a state-endorsed religious expertise, according to the decree.
The document also envisages that importing of material with religious content for personal use is only allowed in the amount of three copies and if they are not included on the prohibited list.
Translated by S.I.
Edited by C.N.