DUSHANBE, January 20, 2014, Asia-Plus – Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports that the Committee on Religious Affairs announced last week that the design for a new, standard issue, uniform for imams has been agreed upon.
The uniform consists of a grey satin shirt, trousers, a turban, and a long powder-blue robe highlighted by traditional white embroidery on the cuffs, lapels, and front trim.
The style, created by local female fashion designer Mukarrama Qayumova, has been approved by the committee as well as the Council of Ulema, the country”s highest religious authority.
In an apparent reference to the embroidery, Saidmukarram Abdulqodirzoda, the head of the Council of Ulema, told reporters that the uniforms bear “national characteristics.”
“The design encompasses special national characteristics, beautiful color, and beautiful style. The national-religious outfit of the clerics has already passed appraisals and approvals by the council and others,” Abdulqodirzoda said.
The Committee on Religious Affairs says the cost and the price of the uniforms have not been determined yet. However, the committee has made it clear that it will cover just 30 percent of the costs, while the rest will be financed by the Council of Ulema and the imams themselves.
Imams have been instructed to send their measurements to the private “Saidjon” sewing factory, which has been contracted to produce the uniforms.
The first batch of tailor-made outfits is expected to be delivered to 426 imams across the country in February. Eventually, all of the country”s more than 4,000 mosques — some of which employ several clerics, including chief and deputy imams — will be outfitted.
Tajik media has reported that the idea was inspired by a 2013 meeting between Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and some 200 clerics in which all the religious figures wore identical clothing.
If all goes as planned, the new uniforms will arrive just as the state begins issuing monthly salaries ranging from $170 to $315 to mosque imams, depending on their position.
Council of Ulema head Abdulqodirzoda said the decision to provide the wages was made at the request of chief imams.
