Authorities rejected information about a ban on sending Islamic greetings

The Committee on Religious Affairs of Tajikistan rejected information on September 20 that the authorities declared sending congratulatory messages “Juma Mubarak” a criminal offense.

The committee’s statement notes that earlier, voice messages circulated on social networks and messengers claiming that “allegedly in Tajikistan, criminal liability is provided for sending and distributing such messages as ‘Juma Mubarak’ and others.”

“The Committee on Religious Affairs, Regulation of National Traditions, Celebrations, and Rituals under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan considers these messages provocative and reports that no such changes have been made to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan,” the committee’s statement says.

On September 19 of this year, several voice messages from residents of the Khatlon region warning their relatives not to send congratulatory messages regarding Friday—a blessed day for Muslims—were received by the editorial office of Azda TV, stating that doing so could now lead to imprisonment.

Despite the Committee on Religious Affairs of Tajikistan rejecting reports that the authorities declared sending greetings “Juma Mubarak” a crime, some sources claim that law enforcement and security officials in the Khatlon region are going door to door warning citizens that sending congratulatory messages “Juma Mubarak,” messages with salawat to praise the Prophet Muhammad, and other Islamic greetings on Fridays is prohibited.

“Today they announced, passed a law, they brought us papers and we signed that sending messages with the text ‘Juma Said Mubarak’ and other Islamic greetings is prohibited. Do not send these messages anymore, otherwise we will have problems,” the source’s message states.