Prisoners incarcerated in Uzbekistan now have the opportunity to request sentence reductions by engaging with a selection of books curated by authorities to instill “appropriate spiritual and moral values,” as per officials. A new amendment to the penal code, passed by lawmakers in the Central Asian nation, applies to approximately 13,500 prisoners, excluding those serving life sentences. In order to benefit from this program, inmates must choose books from an authorized list compiled by the Republican Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment, a governmental organization focused on fostering positive values among convicts, as stated by the country’s Senate.
The Senate further elaborated that for each book completed, the prisoner can earn a reduction of three days from their sentence, limited to a maximum of 30 days per year. An oversight committee will be responsible for confirming that the inmate has genuinely read the selected material. The specifics of the book list have not been disclosed to the public. Uzbekistan, which has been gradually opening up to international engagement since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s election in 2016 following a prolonged period of seclusion, has seen advancements in foreign investments and tourism.
Despite these strides, the nation continues to lack significant political opposition and civil society engagement, with state control prevailing in the realms of media and economy. Earlier this year, Uzbekistan, via its state news agency, affirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of prisoners.