The Parliament of Tajikistan has banned a number of Muslim rituals

In Tajikistan, “idgardak”, ceremonial meetings of pilgrims, and “clothing that does not conform to national culture” have been banned.

According to the official publication of the parliament “Sadoi Mardum”, the Majlisi Namoyandagon (lower house of the Tajik parliament) has adopted amendments to the law prohibiting a number of Muslim rituals.

On May 8, the Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs, Traditions, Celebrations, and Rituals under the Government of Tajikistan, Sulaymon Davlatzoda, delivered a speech at a parliamentary session regarding the discussion of changes and amendments to the law “On the Regulation of Traditions and Rituals”.

“During the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, excesses, extravagance, and the giving of sweets and other gifts (idgardak) have been prohibited,” Davlatzoda stated.

The reason for this decision, the Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs cited, is “the proper upbringing of children and ensuring their safety during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.” According to him, this holiday is not celebrated in its current form in other countries.

“Idgardak” is a widespread tradition in some regions of Tajikistan. In honor of the Islamic holidays — Eid al-Fitr (or Uraza-Bayram) and Eid al-Adha (or Qurban-Bayram) — children go door-to-door receiving sweets.

The issue of banning children’s celebrations of “idgardak” has been hotly debated for several years.

Recently, in April of this year, the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan sent a directive to all preschool institutions, general education schools, and universities to “take measures to prevent students from performing the idgardak ritual.”

Otherwise, school administrations threatened that parents would be fined up to 600 somoni (about 60 dollars).

The new amendments to the law “On the Regulation of Traditions and Rituals” also prohibit “the import, sale, and promotion of clothing alien to national culture, as well as the wearing of such clothing in public places.”

Sulaymon Davlatzoda did not explain which specific clothing is banned by the new version of this law. However, recently, residents of cities and districts in the country have complained that law enforcement officers and government officials are mass detaining women in hijabs and men with beards, forcibly making them remove headscarves and shave their beards, without providing any explanations or justifications for their actions.

It is important to note that previously, it was the Ministry of Education of Tajikistan that first banned the wearing of hijabs and beards in educational institutions. Since then, for several years, Tajik law enforcement regularly conducts raids against beards and hijabs in all cities and districts of the country.

The new edition of the law “On the Regulation of Traditions and Rituals” also restricts the holding of weddings and the circumcision of children, provides for the ceremony of welcoming pilgrims of Hajj and Umrah to be held within the family, prohibits the giving of gifts, festive decoration of yards, streets, and mahallas, and cars during these ceremonies.

Instead of holding a ceremonial welcome for pilgrims, Sulaymon Davlatzoda suggested spending this money on charity, including road repairs, the construction of water supply networks, and the construction or repair of social facilities and bridges.

At the same time, the public is asking the question: if all this will be done by ordinary residents, what will the government be doing?