Hijab banned in schools and hospitals in Tajikistan

Law enforcement and government officials have begun conducting raids against hijabs in the country’s educational and medical institutions.

This action was taken after the Parliament of Tajikistan adopted amendments to the law “On the Regulation of Traditions and Rituals.”

In particular, the new version of this law prohibits wearing “clothing that does not correspond to national culture.” Although the text of the law does not directly prohibit wearing hijabs, it serves as a basis for authorities to forcibly remove hijabs from women.

In one of the widely circulated videos on social media, a group of individuals, including a man in a suit and several women in medical coats, can be seen forcibly removing hijabs from a group of women. The footage shows the entrance to a medical facility, likely a hospital.

“I’m going to take your picture now, then you’ll be detained and fined 3500 somoni (about 340 dollars). Where will you find that kind of money?” says the man, whose name and position remain unknown.

However, the woman does not want to remove her hijab, after which the man angrily says: “Take it off, what good does it do you?”

These individuals, demanding that women remove their scarves and hijabs, refer to the recently adopted amendments to the law “On the Regulation of Traditions and Rituals,” under the pretext of “preventing the propaganda of foreign culture.”

It was previously reported that on May 8, the Majlisi Namoyandagon (lower house of the Parliament of Tajikistan) adopted amendments to the law prohibiting a number of Muslim rituals.

The Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs, Traditions, Celebrations, and Rituals under the Government of Tajikistan, Sulaymon Davlatzoda, stated that the new amendments to the law “On the Regulation of Traditions and Rituals” prohibit “the importation, sale, and propaganda of clothing foreign to national culture, as well as wearing such clothing in public places.”

Experts believe that the control and regulation of citizens’ clothing by Tajik authorities, as in previous years, will increase residents’ hatred towards the government and bolster opposition ranks. In their opinion, “preventing the propaganda of foreign culture” only targets Muslim clothing and hijabs, rather than other types of clothing that are far from Tajik culture.