Discussion on Religious Freedom in Tajikistan

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Esteemed Chairman, esteemed members

of the presidency and valued colleagues. Peace

be upon you, and God’s mercy and blessings. The issue I have risen today to address

on behalf of my constituents is vital

to them, and it concerns issues related

to religious and ideological restrictions on a people who

more than 97 percent consider themselves Muslim and religious.

A people who have elected you and us.

The law now before Parliament, which may also be adopted,

is a continuation of a series of measures to restrict the religious freedoms

of Muslim people in Tajikistan that have long been continuing in the country.

ادامه دارد. نخستین اقدام بر این جاده منع نمودن

of the Muslim call to prayer from mosque loudspeakers, which was contrary to

the Constitution, the provisions of the law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations, and

contrary to the provisions of the noble religion of Islam regarding the call to prayer.

The call to prayer is a symbol of Islam, intended to notify people to participate

It is used in prayer to the extent— it should, as much as possible

reach everyone. Another measure by the country's government to restrict

religious freedoms was its support for the fatwa of the Council of Ulema,

which was against the constitutional freedom of religious people to

prevent Muslim women from participating in

collective worship. Article 26 of the Constitution

states that everyone has the right to determine their relationship with religion

independently, alone or together with others, to follow a religion

or not follow one. To participate in religious ceremonies, customs, and rituals.

Men and women are all equal.

Article four of the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations states that in the Republic of

Tajikistan, freedom of conscience and freedom to follow a religion, including

the right to follow any religion alone or together with others, are guaranteed.

شود. حکومت را می بایست که در مقابل این فتوا

in the country

democratic and fundamental rights, would declare it unenforceable.

But that did not happen. Removing the Islamic hijab from the heads of female

Tajik university students, expelling them from fifth grade, throwing out

thousands of religious students from classes in schools in cities and villages, while allowing

those wearing European-style, semi-nude clothing to go free

both in schools and at universities. Declaring war on the Islamic hijab

which is also the attire of our ancestors, in houses, markets, and

even in the streets, by the country's highest- ranking officials

Humiliating veiled, chaste Tajik women because of

wearing their ancestors' clothing and subjecting them to various interrogations, hauling

hundreds of religious scholars away for teaching Muslim children

Tajiks who were deprived of education abroad so they could study

at home. Also fining hundreds of mosque imams,

preventing praying employees from performing their prayers, whether at

work or in mosques. Stopping them on roads and in streets and

Shaving religious people's beards. Closing prayer rooms in

airports, customs offices, hospitals, and even rest areas,

casting actors with Islamic appearances

in negative roles in films and plays,

what can this be called other than restricting religious freedom?

Another act in this restriction of freedom— in this restriction of religious freedom

Another act in this restriction of freedom— in this restriction of religious freedom

was the adoption of the new law on freedom of conscience and religious associations

by the country's Supreme Assembly in 2009—

Excuse me—

In opposition—

All—

All those things, the thoughts and beliefs that are within you, them—

Opportunities, of course, it must be said—

God willing—

Right away, right away, another time—

In that same—

And according to the law we are considering today, since everyone has one

minute left, we must confine ourselves to this law.

Speak, speak, please.

Well, in the article,

That same law on freedom of conscience states, recruiting minors into

Religious associations’ activities with minors— and providing religious instruction to minors

without the written permission of parents or their legal guardians is prohibited.

These requirements of the law on freedom of conscience, that is, the law, prevent others

from drawing minors into religious instruction and congregational prayers in mosques.

It had granted this right to parents.

But now this law on responsibility has not only taken this right away from parents,

it also makes them responsible for preventing their children from

attending congregational prayers. It can be said of these requirements

that they violate

Muslims’ religious freedom, especially that very law on freedom of conscience and

religious associations. Well, let us be brief now

and move on to the end. If this law has been proposed for the purpose of educating

children,

that is a very noble purpose.

Proper education was also the fundamental duty of God’s prophets.

In the Holy Quran, too, in hundreds of places, about—about—about educating people

It is being discussed, and its program has also been submitted.

This foundation and wall of education begins with faith and complete belief in

the Creator. Every path away from faith and belief

means moving away from the foundation of education.

We all know that, for years, education in the country's Ministry of Education has been based on

secular principles, meaning irreligion.

No sign of religiosity, especially of the true religion of Islam, can be seen in schools and

universities. Yet, despite the passing years, there is no hope of progress.

Instead, the Ministry itself is becoming increasingly corrupt

so that

it has become the primary obstacle on this road, and accordingly

the level of young people's education is declining.

This poses the danger of creating a staffing crisis in the country,

and the country's president, too, announced in his message a shortage of ten

thousand doctors in the country. The secular

operation of the Ministry of Education has brought matters to the point where the country's government

has truly sensed the danger to the new generation and has been forced to this

propose a bill and delegate responsibility for education, which

the Ministry of Education alone cannot handle, to others as well.

Now we, the representatives of the people, stand before

the approval of this

law, a law with a noble goal, but whose path to that goal has been stated incorrectly.

I— we, in the summary we wrote for this bill,

had pointed out its questionable aspects,

but unfortunately, they were not considered this time.

In any case, by accepting this, we will bring many problems

upon our country and our people, which I submit before you.

We will expose our country, its ruler, and its people to God's wrath,

causing them disgrace in this world and punishment in the Hereafter.

For God has stated in the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 114,

as it is said in Tajik: Who is more unjust than one who does not allow

people to remember Him in God's mosques and thereby

They destroy God's mosques. They should leave the mosques only out of

fear of God. Such people will face disgrace in this world

and a severe punishment will await them in the Hereafter.

So this is the knowledge that God, the Creator of the world,

in

His Quran has bestowed upon us, and I have conveyed it to you.

And finally, I hope that at some point,

we, as representatives of the people, not because of our duty and office, but only for

God and God's people, will raise our voices against that

minor restriction which the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan and two

powerful parties in the country have proposed, that the restriction

on class hours be included in this bill.

Peace and mercy be upon you.