The Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan has announced that the decision to introduce “spiritual expertise” for media products has been revoked. The relevant document was withdrawn by the authorities that adopted it, as it did not undergo the mandatory state registration.
The agency reminded that, according to legislation, legal acts that are not registered with the Ministry of Justice cannot regulate public relations and hold no legal force.
Thus, media products can only be subjected to examination for compliance with the law, rather than moral or cultural standards.
Experts from the Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment have been advised to submit analytical proposals to the authorized bodies if the content of media products contradicts the law, for appropriate measures to be taken.
What Happened
In November, the Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment, in collaboration with several government agencies, announced plans to introduce “spiritual expertise” for films, series, songs, and other media content.
It was stated that such checks are necessary to prevent the dissemination of content that threatens national values and the upbringing of youth. Specifically, it was planned to assess media products for compliance with state policy, state symbols, and moral standards.
However, the initiative faced widespread criticism in society and on social media. Users condemned the project, calling it an attempt at censorship disguised as moral protection. Representatives of the creative industry also expressed concern, fearing it would limit creative freedom.
In response, the Center for Spirituality stated that the activities of the expert group would be advisory in nature and would not lead to the introduction of censorship.
On December 7, Culture Minister Ozodbek Nazarbekov commented that the draft law is currently under discussion. In response to a question about many creative individuals perceiving the project as censorship, the Minister of Culture said that censorship is being demanded by the people themselves.
This autumn, the President signed a law on the creative economy. The document defines 15 types of creative activities and measures for their support.
In October, Spot discussed the new law on the creative economy with representatives of the creative industry. Experts expressed concerns that censorship and bureaucracy could hinder the development of the creative sector.
Earlier, Spot reported that a company from Namangan was fined for counterfeit “Biseptol.”