UN special rapporteur calls on authorities to protect freedom of religion

The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghani, stated that the laws, policies, and practices regarding religion or belief in Tajikistan do not meet international standards.

According to Asia-Plus, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, at the final press conference of her 10-day visit, urged the authorities of Tajikistan to “leave the past behind and protect freedom of religion and belief,” as well as to “adapt and review the laws, policies, and practices regarding religion or belief.”

The UN expert criticized the ban on women and individuals under 18 from visiting mosques.

“Respect for freedom of religion and belief must be manifested in public activities and must concern everyone, including women, religious minorities, children, and youth. They should be allowed to exercise this freedom,” she stated.

The UN Special Rapporteur noted that during meetings, Tajik officials cited some reasons for the imposition of restrictions, but they were not sufficiently convincing.

“For example, the ban on youth under 18 from visiting mosques was explained by Tajik authorities as being due to young people missing classes because of prayers at the mosque. They also explained that the law regulating traditions and customs was introduced for cost-saving purposes. The ban on women visiting mosques was justified as being against the Hanafi school,” Ghani noted.

Previously, the public also found these arguments from the authorities unconvincing.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghani, met with representatives of the government, civil society, and the clergy of the country. She also visited a prison in the city of Vahdat and learned about the conditions of the inmates. It is unknown whether she met privately with political prisoners. The UN Special Rapporteur also visited the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region to assess the freedom of religious minorities.

The authorities of Tajikistan have been restricting the freedoms of religion of the country’s residents for years under the pretext of combating religious extremism. Thousands of young people have been dismissed or expelled from universities due to beards or hijabs.