DUSHANBE, July 3, 2013, Asia-Plus — Ms. Saodat Amirshoyeva, deputy of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament, considers that interfaith marriages may affect … gene pool of the Tajik people.
“I am against interfaith marriages. Tajik women should not marriage men of a different religion. Marrying representative of different nationalities/ethnic groups – the Russians, the Chinese and others – will not be of benefit to our traditions and customs,” said Ms. Amirshoyeva. “You may call me nationalist but I am against such marriages.”
She, however, found it difficult to say whether Tajik women may marry representative of different ethnic group if he converts to Islam and lives in Tajikistan and how people of a different religion may affect gene pool of ethnic group.
“Ask the mullahs about this. They say a Muslim woman may marry a non-Muslim man if he converts to Islam. I respect all nationalities and religions. I also consider that Tajik men may marry women of a different religion. But I consider that Tajik women should not marry men of different religion, especially the Chinese,” Amirshoyeva said.
“We have our own traditions and customs. If men do not follow Islam and Sharia, Tajik women should not marry them,” Tajik MP noted.
According to her, interfaith marriages may affect gene pool of the ethnic group. Amirshoyeva considers that everyone should support and agitate for the idea that Tajik women should not marry adherents of a different faith.
She further added that it did not mean that a law banning such marriages would appear in Tajikistan in the future. “We live in a democratic society. How we can ban such marriages?”
