Ozodi: 90% розӣ аз ҳиҷоб даст кашанд рейди фаҳмондадиҳӣ

Radio Ozodi article (Tajik, 16 August 2017, by Mullorajab Yusufi) reports on a ten-day “explanation” campaign (3–13 August 2017) in Dushanbe conducted by working groups of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs together with law-enforcement representatives and the Committee on Religious Affairs. The article reports officials’ claim that about 8,000 hijab-wearing women in Dushanbe were approached and that roughly 90 percent reportedly agreed to stop wearing “religious clothing” and adopt “national clothing”. Named officials cited: Marhabo Olimi, first deputy chair of the Committee on Women, and Sabohat Mamadaliyeva. Olimi is cited saying husbands (including those in labour migration) and mothers-in-law threatened women with divorce if they removed the hijab. A first-hand account from a woman named Dildora describes an incident at Polyclinic No. 10 where officials gathered hijab-wearing women into a room, had security personnel and camera operators present, removed her headscarf and demonstrated “Tajik-style” head covering. The article cites male interviewees Akram Asrorov (teacher) and Husein Hasanov, with opposing views on their wives’ dress. Background references include President Emomali Rahmon’s 11 July 2017 statement, a 23 August 2017 parliamentary review of the Law on Regulation of Traditions, and the 15 August 2017 US State Department religious-freedom report.