Sputnik Tajikistan: "Political clothing" — why they don't understand Tajikistan

Sputnik Tajikistan (Sputnik Тоҷикистон), dated 15 August 2024, reports that the Tajik Foreign Ministry gathered the diplomatic corps and domestic and foreign media in Dushanbe to explain the essence of state religious policies. The article states that Tajikistan has been criticised by Western human-rights organisations, media, and some extremist clerics in Afghanistan and the broader Muslim world for allegedly “violating the rights of Muslims.” Farrukh Sharifzoda (Фаррух Шарифзода), Deputy Foreign Minister, is quoted calling such coverage “provocative” and asserting that the amendments to the Law on Regulating Traditions and Ceremonies are aimed at preserving religious values, not banning the hijab or restricting the Hajj. The article reports that since the late 2000s the government has prohibited: Arab, Afghan and Iranian-style hijab and veiling; long beards; children and teenagers attending mosques; home and foreign religious education; and religious propaganda in public places. Parliament adopted the Law on Regulating Traditions and Ceremonies in 2008 and the Law on Parental Responsibility in 2011. This year the first law was amended again to ban not only wearing but also importing and selling “foreign clothing” such as long black abayas, torn jeans, and very short outfits. The article reports that the US Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the law as “harsh and repressive.” Saidmukarram Abdukodirzoda (Саидмукаррам Абдуқодирзода), head of the Ulema Council of Tajikistan, is quoted saying Islam does not prescribe a particular dress for Muslim women, only that the body be covered, and that Tajikistan has its own national costume which is both modest and covering; he distinguishes between Islamic requirements and the Afghan burqa. Abdurahim Kholikov (Абдураҳим Холиқов), head of the Islamic Studies Centre of Tajikistan, is quoted arguing national costume is a pillar of national identity. Analyst Rustami Rushangar (Рустами Рушангар) is quoted saying Tajikistan protects Islam from extremists. Sources cited: Foreign Ministry; Ulema Council; Islamic Studies Centre; CAIR; various Sputnik interviews.