Tajikistan bans Islamic hijab in culture clash crackdown
The Tajikistan parliament has decided to ban "clothes that do not correspond to the national culture." According to Radio Liberty's portal, the regulations do not specify precisely what this ban entails, but the people of Tajikistan understand that it primarily concerns the hijab.
The Radio Liberty portal emphasizes that Tajik society can comprehend what kind of clothing is meant, considering the longstanding efforts of the Tajik authorities in combating Islam. According to the new regulations, importing, selling, or wearing such clothing in public places will be subject to a fine.
The fine can be as much as 7920 somoni, about £600. For public officials, the fine can be as high as 39600 somoni, or about £3000.
"The changes are absurd"
Experts point out that the regulations do not explain what the phrase "clothes that do not correspond to the national culture" means, as the canon of such clothing is not clearly defined. "The main difference between national and European clothing is that Tajik clothing contains national ornaments," explains Romish Odinazoda, a national costume designer.
Munira Szhahidi, a Tajik culturologist, notes that their "national attire has continually evolved over the centuries, incorporating different elements. During Soviet times, it included Russian elements." She adds that "the freedom to wear clothes is important. It means there should not be any rigid rules or laws stating that I cannot cross certain boundaries. It's absurd."
The authorities fight for secularism
Radio Liberty points out that the parliament adopted the changes in the law without submitting them to public discussion. International human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized the Tajik authorities for pressuring and discriminating against women wearing Muslim attire. The same applies to men expressing their religiosity, who are often forcibly shaved.
In Tajikistan, a country that emerged after the fall of the USSR, more than 90 percent of the population are Muslims. However - just like in several neighboring Central Asian countries - the authorities are doing everything to maintain the formal secularism of the state, fearing a takeover by extremist religious groups. In the 1990s, the government was engulfed in a civil war for several years, with one side being Islamist groups, linked among others to Al Qaeda.
