In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the head of the Supreme Court of Tajikistan, Shermuhammad Shohiyon, revealed on February 1 that 771 Tajik nationals were fined a total of 3.3 million somoni (TJS) last year for violation of the norms of the Law on Observing National Traditions and Rituals.
Adopted in June 2007, the Law on Observing National Traditions and Rituals regulates private celebrations and funeral services, including weddings, funerals, and Mavludi Payghambar (the Prophet's birthday).
The stated intent of the law is to protect the public from spending excessive amounts of money on these celebrations, which often included several hundred guests. The law limits the number of guests, eliminates engagement parties, and controls ceremonial gift presentations and other rituals.
Shohiyon also told reporters today that 10,629 nationals of the country were fined a total 1.477 million somoni last year for violating the norms of the law on holding parents responsible for their children’s action and education.
The Law on Parental Responsibility, signed into law in August 2011, in particular, prohibits persons under 18 from participating in public religious activities with the exception of funerals.
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.
