In Tajikistan, the “Guide for Applicants” published annually by the National Testing Center (NTC) specifies that document submission for enrollment at the Islamic Institute is only available to men. Representatives of the NTC confirmed this, although the rector of the institute claims there is no discrimination against women.
The guide states that “specialties at the Islamic Institute of Tajikistan named after Imam Azam Abu Hanifa Nu’man ibn Thabit can only be chosen by men.”
However, the reasons for the exclusion of women are not disclosed.
Abdulbosit Shodiniyo, the First Deputy Chairman of the NTC, stated at a press conference in January that women have been deprived of the right to apply to the Islamic Institute for several years.
According to him, the enrollment procedure allows only men, and no women have been registered or taken exams in the past few years.
“This policy has been in place for around 4-5 years,” Shodiniyo said, adding that the decision was made in collaboration with "higher authorities." However, he did not specify which authorities were involved.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed rector of the Islamic Institute, Abdualim Akhtamzoda, told a press conference that no women were enrolled in the institute for the 2025-2026 academic year.
However, he noted that 29 women are currently studying in the evening department, having enrolled in previous years.
Akhtamzoda rejected allegations of discrimination and emphasized that “the doors of the institute are always open to everyone.” According to him, anyone who submits an application for admission will be accepted without exceptions.
Former rector, Nusratullo Zokirzoda, also claimed that there were no restrictions on women’s enrollment at the Islamic Institute. However, he could not explain why there are no female students in the full-time department.
Until 2018, when changes were made to the law on freedom of conscience and religious associations in Tajikistan, there were 250 female students at the Islamic Institute. Since then, religious education has only been permitted at state-run institutions, and unofficial religious training is punishable by law.
The Islamic Institute of Tajikistan was founded in 1997 and has been under the Ministry of Education and Science since 2007. In 2025, the institute moved into a new large building, which was inaugurated by President Emomali Rahmon.
