DUSHANBE, March 7, 2011, Asia-Plus — In response to U.S. criticism of the current religious freedom situation in Tajikistan, Tajik Ambassador to the OSCE Nouriddin Shamsov reaffirmed Tajikistan’s respect for its obligations as a member of the OSCE.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, Ambassador Shamsov noted that there was a high level of tolerance, religious coexistence and climate of religious harmony in Tajikistan.
The Tajik MFA information department reports Tajik Ambassador to the OSCE
Nouriddin Shamsov has officially responded to the concerns U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Ian Kelly raised on March 3 at the OSCE Permanent Council session in Vienna.
Ambassador Kelly expressed concern over the state of religious freedom in a number of the OSCE member states, including Tajikistan.
We will recall that in his statement delivered in Vienna, Ambassador Kelly, in particular, noted on March 3 that “the most severe abuses of religious freedom take place under authoritarian governments; those that seek to control all religious thought and expression as part of a more comprehensive determination to control all aspects of political and civic life. Some governments cite concerns about political security as a basis to repress peaceful religious practice. We see this today in the OSCE especially in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.”
“In Tajikistan a proposed “draft law on the responsibilities of parents” would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from participation in religious communities,” said Ambassador Kelly. “We encourage the government of Tajikistan to remove this draft provision, which would constitute a serious violation of religious freedom. We note with concern that a de facto ban on women attending mosques is already in effect in Tajikistan.”
In the meantime, Mr. Shamsov noted that “Tajikistan’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the government respects this right.” According to him, Tajikistan’s new religion law adopted in 2009 gives persons the right to chose or change their religion and freely practice their religion.
“More than 3,500 mosques and 84 non-Muslim religious organizations now function in Tajikistan and the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan is now the only Islamic party registered in the post-Soviet area,” said Shamsov, “Tajikistan’s national policy in the field of religion and religious organizations is conducted in accordance with constitutional principles of civil society based on political and ideological pluralism and relations between government bodies and religious organizations.”
He noted that the law does not give preference “to any separate religion or religious organization and prevents imposition of ideology of religious organizations on civil society.”
Tajik Ambassador to the OSCE stressed that the Public Council that was founded by the President of Tajikistan many years ago included a large number religious organizations and ethnic communities.
Shamsov noted that Tajikistan adhered to its international obligations. “However, the human rights issues should be considered alongside increasing manifestations of extremism, radicalism, terrorism, terrorism and threats rising outside the OSCE area as well as in the context of national and regional efforts to provide security and stability in the region.”
Shamsov noted that Tajikistan’s Supreme Court has banned organizations as extremist since 2006. The list includes Al-Qaeda, Islamic Movement of Eastern Turkestan, Jamiati Tablighot, Taliban Movement, etc. 134 members of the outlawed extremist religious group Hizb ut-Tahrir have been sentenced to various terms in prison, he said.
Shamsov added that the human rights issues remained in the program of open and constructive dialogue between the Government of Tajikistan, the OSCE and its Participating states.
