Tajikistan officially banned the wearing of hijabs and other foreign garments, as the country’s parliament passed a new law regulating Islamic clothing and Eid celebrations.
The bill, approved by the upper house of parliament, Majlisi Milli, on June 19, follows a decade-long unofficial crackdown on the hijab in this Muslim-majority nation.
Under the new legislation, individuals wearing hijabs or other prohibited religious attire may face fines of up to 7,920 somonis (approximately $700). Companies allowing employees to wear these garments could be fined 39,500 somonis ($3,500). Government officials and religious leaders found in violation face even steeper fines of 54,000-57,600 somonis ($4,800-$5,100).
Additionally, the bill prohibits children from participating in festivities and gift-giving traditions associated with the Islamic holidays of Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha. Government officials claim these measures are intended to ensure the proper education and safety of children during the holidays.
Tajikistan has seen a rise in Islamic clothing from the Middle East in recent years, which authorities view as linked to extremism and a threat to the country’s cultural identity. In March, President Emomali Rahmon described the hijab as “foreign clothing.” The government has been promoting traditional Tajik national dress as an alternative.
The new law escalates Tajikistan’s informal restrictions on Islamic attire. Since 2007, the hijab has been banned for students, with the prohibition extending to all public institutions. Authorities have also discouraged men from having bushy beards, with reports of police forcibly shaving thousands of beards over the past decade.
Human rights organizations have criticized Tajikistan’s hijab ban as a violation of religious liberty. With Muslims comprising over 98% of the population, the law is likely to face significant opposition within Tajik society as it goes into effect.
