Muslim-Majority Country Enforces Ban On Hijab, Beard, And Religious Books

In Tajikistan, despite a 96% Muslim population, traditional Islamic attire such as beards for men and hijabs for women are banned. The country, constitutionally secular but with religious freedom guaranteed, has been under the leadership of President Emomali Rahmon for nearly thirty years.

According to the 2024 US International Religious Freedom Report, Tajikistan's government, under President Emomali Rahmon's regime, is further deteriorating its already poor record on religious freedom. The report highlights that the government suppresses public displays of religiosity among people of all faiths and persecutes minority communities. Bans on wedding and funeral banquets, as well as restrictions on keeping beards and wearing hijabs, are enforced. Additionally, Islamic bookshops in Dushanbe were forcibly closed in 2022, as noted in the American report.

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Religious materials cannot be imported into Tajikistan without government approval. Despite the reopening of Islamic bookshops in 2023, they are now prohibited from selling Islamic books. The Tajikistan government justifies these policies as necessary measures to combat extremism and prevent Islamic radicalism within the country. This approach is particularly significant given Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan.

A report published in The Diplomat in 2015 noted that regulations in Tajikistan prohibited female students under 18 from wearing hijabs. Children under 18 were generally restricted from participating in public religious activities, except for funerals. Furthermore, Tajikistan's laws tightly control private ceremonies such as funerals and weddings, requiring official permission for these events. The government also determines the number of attendees allowed at these ceremonies.

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