DUSHANBE, August 3, 2011, Asia-Plus — “I regret that the president has signed the parental responsibility law,” a prominent Tajik religious leader and former deputy prime minister Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“I particularly regret that the president signed the law during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when the majority of young people attend mosques,” he said, noting that he never hoped that the head of state would suspend signing of that law.
Asked about observance of the law by the population, Turajonzoda said that it would not be observed by people on a voluntary basis.
“With support from law enforcement agencies, local authorities and state-run media they will be able to create conditions for observance of the law by a certain category of persons during a certain time,” noted he. “I am sure that with the lapse of time the part of the law that bans children under 18 from worshipping in mosques will be forgotten by all, including the authorities, because it is in contrary not only to God’s laws and principles but also to culture and spirit of Muslims of Tajikistan.”
We will recall that President Emomali Rahmon signed the law on holding parents responsible for their children’s action and education on August 2.
Many believers in the country are critical of the parental responsibility law that bans children under 18 from worshipping in mosques, churches and other houses of worship.
In an interview with Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, Hoji Akbar Turajonzoda on June 17 criticized the parental responsibility law as being openly against the will of God.
Some local experts say the main target of the parental responsibility law is the Muslim children that the government wants to ban from going to mosques in an attempt to prevent them from becoming radical Muslims.
