Tajikistan’s upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament (Majlisi Oli) has seconded amendments made to the country’s law on population census. The amendments, in particular, provide for including the question on religion in the population census questionnaire.
The 19th session of the Majlisi Milli, presided over by its head, Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev, took place in Dushanbe non July 11.
Majlisi Mill members discussed 16 laws adopted by the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament), including the law requiring amendments to the country’s law on the population census.
Majlisi Milli members noted that more than 90 percent of Tajikistan population is Muslims. But the main objective of this law is reportedly to specify the exact numbers of followers of Islam, Christianity and other religions as well as atheists in the country.
MP Abduhalim Ghafforov (Majlisi Namoyandagon), who is one of authors of these amendments, noted that such data is necessary for government bodies that must be aware of religions of the country’s citizens as well as for international organizations collaborating with the Tajik authorities.
In Tajikistan, this question will be included in the population census questionnaire for the first time.
The next population census will be carried out in Tajikistan in 2020.
