The Ambassador of Tajikistan met with the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars.

The meeting between Ambassador Nurmurod Mahmadali and the renowned theologian Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi took place in Qatar.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, on July 21, 2024, a meeting was held between the Ambassador of Tajikistan in Qatar, Nurmurod Mahmadali, and the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Ali Muhiddin Al-Qaradaghi.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on ways to “prevent the involvement of youth in terrorist and extremist movements and groups that pursue interests using the sacred religion of Islam, respect for national and cultural customs, and other issues of mutual interest,” the statement noted.

Previously, the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi, and the Secretary-General of this organization, Sheikh Muhammad As-Sallabi, addressed an open letter to the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon.

In the letter, the theologians criticized the “ban on wearing the hijab, strict rules for visiting mosques, prohibition of Arabic names, ban on wearing traditional Islamic clothing, ban on beards, ban on women and children under 18 visiting mosques, ban on performing Hajj for those under 40, ban on studying in Islamic schools outside Tajikistan, ban on the import and export of Islamic literature without official permission, as well as the ban on using loudspeakers to broadcast the adhan, and the ban on registering Islamic associations and parties,” calling them violations of citizens’ freedom of religion.

Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi also condemned the law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On the Regulation of Celebrations and Rituals in the Republic of Tajikistan” and the law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On the Responsibility for the Education and Upbringing of a Child,” describing measures such as the ban on wearing the hijab, restrictions in mosques, and the fight against Islamic religious rituals as a “war against Almighty Allah, who is the Creator of this universe, the Creator of Emomali Rahmon, and the Creator of all people.”

It appears that the meeting between the Ambassador of Tajikistan and the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Ali Al-Qaradaghi, was held with the aim of softening the position of this influential international organization regarding the repressive policies and imposed restrictions by the leadership of Tajikistan.