Tajikistan, a country with 90% Muslim population, has moved to formally ban the wearing of the hijab in the country.
- The Bill was passed by the lower house of the Parliament (the Majlisi Namoyandagon) on May 8, and approved by the upper house (the Majlisi Milli) on June 19.
- This move gives legal weight to the remarks made by President Emomali Rahmon, who has referred to the hijab as “foreign clothing”.
- The new law amends the existing law ‘On Regulation of Holidays and Ceremonies’ and forbids the import, sale, promotion and wearing of clothing deemed foreign to the national culture.
- Central to these changes is the ban on the hijab, the head covering worn by Muslim women, as well as other garments associated with Islam.
- Violations may attract fines ranging from 7,920 somonis ($747) for individual offenders to 39,500 somonis ($3,724).
- The Bill also bans Eidi, the custom of children being gifted money during Eid and Navroz, as well as festivities around Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha.
