Hijab Banned In This Country, Will This Vanish The Islamic Tradition?

During the 18th session of the Majlisi Milli, the upper chamber of parliament, a bill banning the use of the hijab was passed.

The Tajikistani parliament on Friday, June 21, passed a bill outlawing the headscarf (Hijab). According to Dushanbe-based independent news source Asia Plus, President Emomali Rahmon described the hijab as “foreign clothing,” prompting the decision that came after years of prohibitions on religious attire.

The Hijab Ban

During the 18th session of the Majlisi Milli, the upper chamber of parliament, a bill banning the use of the hijab was passed. The house outlawed “alien garments” and the observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha by children, the two major Islamic holidays. The measure primarily targets traditional Islamic clothing, which is centered around the hijab, an Islamic scarf.

Is Tajik Heading To Vanish Islamic Tradition?

Rahmon’s plan to encourage “Tajiki” culture and lessen overt public religiosity includes the prohibition on the headscarf. The ban has its roots in Rahmon’s politics and hold on power as the leader of what he considers to be a secular state.

Following his election to the presidency of the Central Asian nation in 1994, Emomali Rahmon governed for thirty years. According to The Indian Express, the president has taken a stand against political parties that are more religious.

Tajikistan has seen several changes throughout Rahmon’s reign, the most recent of which being the prohibition on the headscarf. Following the reforms to the Tajikistan Constitution to abolish the limit on the number of presidential terms, one of the most significant developments occurred in 2016. Additionally, he outlawed political parties rooted on religion that would oppose his own.

Growing religiosity post-Soviet Union split?

Analysts point out that the president of Tajikistan’s broad initiatives may have been prompted by the country’s growing religiosity following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Journalist Massoumeh Torfeh, who formerly served as the UN Mission of Observers in Tajikistan’s spokesperson, wrote for Al Jazeera in 2015. More individuals are attending prayers in newly constructed mosques, there are an increasing number of Islamic study groups, and more men and women are dressing in Islamic garb. Islamist armed organizations have also been active in Tajikistan and Afghanistan’s border regions at the same time.

What’s New In The Law?

“Import, sale, promotion, and wearing of clothing deemed foreign to the national culture” are all prohibited by the new law. Infractions can result in fines of up to 39,500 somonis, or around three lakh Indian rupees, for a single offender, according to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service.