The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan reacted to the materials in the media and how they were commented on the topic of the adoption of a new draft law "On the regulation of traditions, celebrations and rituals."
At a briefing organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 13, reports on the ban on wearing the satr and hijab, as well as restrictions on Hajj in the country, were called unfounded.
The full text of the updated law was published on June 22 in the government newspaper Chumkhuriyat. And that's when it came into force.
According to this law, "the importation, sale, and propaganda of clothing alien to the national culture is prohibited." Penalties for violations of the provisions of this law have been increased. In particular, if earlier only administrative liability was provided for non-compliance with the law on regulation, now criminal liability has been added, which provides for large fines and imprisonment for up to three years.
During the briefing, Deputy Foreign Minister Farrukh Sharifzoda refuted the ban on wearing satra and hijab in the country and, conversely, called the protection and preservation of national culture in the new version of the Law, which, according to him, is "the first in the Islamic world" worthy of praise.
He stated that "the government of the country, in order to preserve cultural identity and ancient civilization, recommends that citizens abandon imitation, alien influences and ostentatious appearance and, if possible, wear national clothes."
Sharifzoda recalled that the clothes that Tajik women and mothers have worn for centuries and which met the requirements of Sharia, local customs and geographical features, "in itself is satr."
"If we pay attention to the clothes of our people, we will see that women, girls and mothers in the country wear national clothes, which consists of headscarf, dress and trousers", Sharifzoda said.
He also said that the relevant ministries and departments are currently developing a draft national dress for women and girls, which will meet the requirements of the Islamic religion and the Hanafi Madhhab.
It is important to note that in fact, the published law does not name any (!) allegedly prohibited clothes, the document contains only the word "alien", without any explanation.
Saidmukarram Abdulkodirzoda, Chairman of the Ulama Council of Tajikistan, who was also present at the briefing, noted that the Islamic religion does not define a specific fashion, color, cut or style of clothing for a Muslim woman, and the main requirement is that those parts of the body that should be covered should not be shown (hidden).
However, even at this briefing, no one clarified what exactly is meant by "clothing alien to national culture", which is mentioned in the law and for wearing which punishment is provided.
