Public reaction to Emomali Rahmon’s disrespect towards the mosque

Some social media users reacted to the disrespectful attitude of Emomali Rahmon towards the largest mosque in Central Asia.

According to official data, on August 26, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon visited the Main Mosque of Astana.

According to photographs published by the press service of the President of Tajikistan, during the visit to the Main Mosque of the capital of Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, his security detail, and others removed their shoes at the entrance to the mosque as a sign of respect. However, Emomali Rahmon entered the mosque wearing shoes.

These shoes worn by Emomali Rahmon, which he walked on the carpets and floor inside the mosque, were different from his usual footwear that he wore outside.

Typically, at official meetings and events, as well as during foreign trips, the President of Tajikistan appears in public wearing high-heeled shoes to appear 4-5 centimeters taller. However, inside the Main Mosque of Astana, he wore flat shoes.

The reasons for choosing such footwear for the visit to the central mosque of Kazakhstan remain unclear. Nevertheless, this unexpected detail in President Rahmon’s appearance did not go unnoticed by the public and has already sparked many comments and discussions on social media.

Photo: Internet

Photo: Internet

Photo: Internet

According to official data, at the personal instruction of Emomali Rahmon, over the past 10 years, more than 2,000 mosques in Tajikistan have been closed, destroyed, sold at auction, or repurposed for other uses, including kindergartens, medical points, sewing workshops, and other public facilities.

The construction of the Main Mosque of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, began on March 18, 2019. The mosque was opened on August 12, 2022. The area of the land on which the mosque is located is 10 hectares. The total area of the building is 68,000 square meters.