In the city of Tashkent and the Fergana region, cases of illegal religious education of children and the distribution of prohibited religious books have been revealed. This was reported by the State Security Service.
These incidents are considered not only as violations of the law but also as a serious threat to public consciousness, the safety of children, and the future of society.
It was revealed that in a private house in the Jidali neighborhood of the Almazar district, a citizen from the Dehqonobod district of the Kashkadarya region had been secretly conducting religious lessons for 15 minors since May 2025. He demanded $150 from each student.
These students were born between 2004 and 2014, and 11 of them were underage. Notably, one of them had not attended school for three years.
In another case, a resident of the Mirzo Ulugbek district had been teaching 10 underage children since June of this year, demanding $100 and food from each. Furthermore, to hide the children from potential inspections by law enforcement agencies, he converted a basement in the house, covered it with a metal lid, and filled it with stones and sand.
This method of hiding children in a closed basement is so unacceptable and inexplicable that it raises serious concern. Parents who entrusted their children to such a person should not be exempt from responsibility.
In both cases, an administrative case was initiated under Article 241 (Illegal religious education). It was found that the persons providing education used illegally printed books and manuscripts without official holograms and were not registered.
In addition, in the Buvayda district of the Fergana region, another violator organized an illegal printing house in his home and printed religious literature. He distributed these books in some stores in Tashkent city and the Samarkand region. During the raid, 1,210 finished books, 2,000 semi-finished books, and 6 printing machines were confiscated.
Interestingly, this individual was fined in July 2024 for the same offense but continued his illegal activities.
Currently, investigative actions are being carried out on all these cases to provide a legal assessment. Those who endangered children and turned religious education into a paid business will be held accountable.
These events once again show that parents, the state, and the public must approach the issue of children's education with high responsibility. “Lessons” conducted in closed rooms and dark basements must not cast a shadow on our future.
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