Kommersant: Tajikistan's president signs law banning the hijab

On 20 June 2024 the Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon (Эмомали Рахмон), had signed 35 laws, among them a law “On the Regulation of Celebrations and Ceremonies” which, according to the article, bans the wearing of “alien clothing” (“чуждая одежда”) in the country. The article states that Rahmon also signed laws banning “extravagance” and the customary practice of “idgardak”. According to the article, citing the president’s press service, the laws are intended to “protect original values and national culture”, to prevent “superstitions and prejudices” and to curb “excesses and wastefulness” in celebrations. Citing Asia-Plus, Kommersant reports that the law was adopted against the background of reports of fines in Tajikistan for wearing the hijab and of demands that women wear the headscarf in the “national” manner; non-compliance with the new law carries a fine, but the text of the law does not specify which clothing is considered “alien”. The article explains that “idgardak” is a custom associated with Qurban-Bayram, Uraza-Bayram (Eid al-Fitr) and Navruz, during which children dress up and go house to house collecting treats. The article recalls that in March 2024 Rahmon had already spoken against the hijab, calling it “alien clothing”, and quotes him as stating at a meeting with activists and religious figures: “If we are superficial in our language, actions and conduct — wear long dresses, grow long beards, put on the hijab and satr, but have a bad heart and evil intentions — that is hypocrisy.” Named persons: Emomali Rahmon (president). The article is authored by Yevgeny Belousov (Евгений Белоусов). Sources cited: the Tajik president’s press service (president.tj), Asia-Plus, and a March 2024 transcript on mfa.tj.