Tajikistan Denies Clothing Ban Amidst Ongoing Enforcement

Tajikistan's government has officially denied the existence of any new laws banning beards or hijabs. However, reports from independent media outlet Asia-Plus reveal that police enforcement of clothing restrictions continues, based on Article 18 of the Law on the Ordering of Traditions, Celebrations, and Ceremonies, which came into effect in June 2024. This law prohibits the import, sale, promotion, and public wearing of clothing deemed "not in line with national culture," without providing specific definitions or penalties. Nevertheless, police are exercising discretionary power, with documented cases of men being forcibly shaved for having beards and women in black hijabs being cautioned. In the city of Bokhtar, one man was detained for three days and fined for his beard. Tajikistan has been designated a U.S. "Country of Particular Concern" on religious freedom since 2016, and concerns about religious freedom remain persistent. The current crackdown is seen as part of a broader pattern of the government intensifying pressure on Islamic groups and individuals within the country, following the 2015 ban of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan. Given Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan, the issue also has a dimension of "exaggerating threats" to secure funding from Western countries for counter-terrorism and border security. Furthermore, similar clothing restrictions are being observed in neighboring countries, and Russian media's reporting of these as evidence of crackdowns on Muslims within those states adds to the complexity of the situation. The reality of ongoing enforcement at the grassroots level, despite the government's official denial, has not dispelled concerns regarding the freedom of religious dress in Tajikistan.