New Raids Against the Hijab in Tajikistan

News:

In the city of Panjakent in Tajikistan’s Sughd Region, representatives of the local authorities and police conducted raids targeting the wearing of “clothing alien to the national culture”. This was reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, Radio Ozodi.

One of the photographs published by the office of the ruling People’s Democratic Party shows several people, including a police officer, speaking with a woman wearing a black headscarf; another shows them speaking with a woman wearing a beige headscarf. According to the authorities, the raid is being conducted in order to “prevent the spread of foreign culture” and “protect national identity and values”.

It should be recalled that in 2024, Tajikistan adopted a law prohibiting the “import, sale, and wearing in public places of clothing alien to the national culture.” Although the law does not define what constitutes “alien” clothing, experts pointed out that it specifically refers to religious attire, including the hijab and satr. Individuals who violate the law face a fine of 7,920 somoni ($733).

Comment:

The corrupt Rahmon regime’s campaign against Islam has been ongoing for more than 30 years. Any manifestation of Islam—whether wearing the hijab or a beard, performing the Hajj, or attending a mosque—is subject to strict state control.

It should be noted, however, that in recent years, particularly against the backdrop of Russia’s weakening since the start of its invasion of Ukraine, the regime has somewhat tempered its campaign, realizing that if Russia were to collapse in the near future, it could find itself facing the population on its own. Therefore, it appears that the authorities prefer not to antagonize the population unnecessarily.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Muhammad Mansour