GENEVA - UN experts* today expressed concern about forced evictions and housing demolitions in the city centre of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site since 2001.
"We have repeatedly raised our serious concerns about forced evictions in several UNESCO world natural and cultural heritage sites, including in Cambodia, Tanzania and Uzbekistan, with the concerned Governments, UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee," the experts said.
"In most instances the victims are marginalised communities, members of minorities or Indigenous Peoples whose socio-economic fabric and livelihoods are destroyed by such forced evictions. The free, prior and informed consent of local communities is completely disregarded."
In May 2025 an entire neighbourhood located in the protected zone close to the al-Maturidi mausoleum was demolished. More than 1,200 people lost their homes within a few weeks. The housing demolitions have displaced mainly members belonging to the Multoni minority, a local Roma community who had lived in the area for generations and maintained deep cultural and historical connections to the neighbourhood.
"No alternatives were explored for how improved tourist infrastructure and a pilgrimage centre could be realised without flattening an entire neighbourhood," the experts said. "Nor was a resettlement plan drawn up, discussed and agreed upon with the affected community before the demolitions started."
A heritage impact assessment was only provided to the World Heritage Committee after most homes had already perished.
According to reports, the community was expropriated under severe pressure from police, judicial and local authorities in a rushed process that did not allow for any effective judicial remedy. A lawyer defending a homeowner was threatened and detained by police, and electricity and gas were temporarily disconnected to make people leave their homes. While several residents received compensation, the amounts were insufficient to buy similar sized land and housing in the city centre of Samarkand.
The housing demolitions took place only a few months after the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing visited the city and called for an end to forced evictions in the country.
The World Heritage Committee repeatedly requested that a moratorium on demolition and new development in Samarkand be kept in place.
"We deeply regret that the Government has chosen to disregard this recommendation on a moratorium," the experts said.
The targeting of a Roma community raises serious concerns about discrimination and cultural erasure. The demolitions took place just some few months before UNESCO is holding its 43rd General Conference starting today in Samarkand.
So far UNESCO and its World Heritage Committee have failed to adopt any official guidelines that would prohibit forced evictions, ensure security of tenure and respect the free, prior and informed consent of residents to any relocation living in or around world heritage sites. UNESCO has the duty to respect human rights and cultural rights and not turn a blind eye to their violation in the name of protecting cultural heritage, the experts said.
"There is regrettably a stronger risk that a world heritage site is delisted when a bridge obstructs views, than when local populations are forcibly driven out of their homes and livelihoods and face severe human rights violations, all in the name of protection of heritage."
The experts urged UNESCO's General Conference to establish guidelines prohibiting forced evictions and ensuring rights-compliant resettlement if it is impossible to avoid relocation of residents. All criteria for awarding UNESCO inscription and for maintaining it must include respect for human rights standards.
The experts remain available to advise States and international organisations on these issues.
