Screening of a film about Emomali Rahmon at the mosque in Vanj District

The executive bodies of the state authority in the Vanj district reported the screening of the documentary film “Leader from the Heart of the People” in mosques, as well as in state institutions and bodies of the district.

A video has been published on the official Facebook page of the district administration, showing a group of worshippers in one of the mosques watching this documentary film.

The content of the video indicates that the film highlights and praises the activities of the authoritarian President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon. The district administration wrote in the comments to the video that the screening of the film “Leader from the Heart of the People” is being conducted in mosques, state institutions, and other bodies of the district.

The video does not specify the name of the mosque, the number of mosques where this film was shown, or the exact date of the screening. It is also unclear whether watching the film was mandatory for the worshippers or voluntary.

At the time of this article’s publication, the authorities of the Vanj district had not commented on the basis for the screening of documentary films in mosques and whether this is an initiative of the imams of these mosques.

Opinions of the worshippers, as well as responsible persons and mosque staff in this video, are also unavailable.

For many years, the state authority and government supporters, pro-government structures have broadcast speeches, messages, and documentary films about the life and activities of Emomali Rahmon on television channels, in schools, universities, and state institutions, forcing residents and staff to watch them. However, this case, where the viewing of such a film takes place inside a mosque and is intended for worshippers, is observed for the first time.

Critics of Emomali Rahmon claim that in recent years, the government under his leadership has intensified pressure on the religious segments of the population. According to them, independent religious figures have been removed from working in mosques, and the management of mosques has completely come under state control.

Critics assert that mosques, which are places of worship, conduct religious rituals, and call for good deeds, have increasingly turned into platforms for promoting government policy and personally Emomali Rahmon in recent years.