DUSHANBE, November 17, 2012 Asia-Plus – The Shuroi Ulamo (Council of Ulamo — an Islamic council that issues fatwas (religious rulings) and religious guidance to Islamic religious organizations) at the Islamic Center of Tajikistan has reportedly established the length of beard for men and the dress standards for women following an instruction from the Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan.
An official source at the Islamic Center says that under the Hanafi Fiqh (the majority of residents of Tajikistan adhere to the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam), there ought to keep a beard of one fist (to cut the hair of the beard that exceeds the amount that may be grasped in the fist).
“Women are allowed to wear dress as satre aurat – to cover the whole body except face, hands and foots,” the source noted.
CRA representatives refrained from commenting on the situation.
We will recall that in September 2009 the Ministry of Education issued a dress code prohibiting teachers under age 50 from wearing a beard. The Council of Ulamo stressed the need for persons to wear traditional robes and headwear, as opposed to religious dress considered foreign, such as a hijab, while in public.
The report by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor within the U.S. Department of State on religious freedom in Tajikistan for 2011 notes women wearing hijab and men with beards were discriminated against in seeking employment.
