The Council (Shuro) of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower house of parliament) has endorsed amendments that provide for dismissing servicemen of the Interior Ministry Internal Troops for violating law on observing national traditions and rituals.
A meeting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon Council, presided by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, took place on March 12.
“The meeting discussed amendments proposed to the country’s law on the Interior Ministry Internal Troops,” Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
“The amendments, in particular, provide for dismissing servicemen of the Interior Ministry Internal Troops for violating law on observing national traditions and rituals,” Sultonov said.
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.
In August last year, Tajikistan amended the law.
