After Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed into law a bill “On the responsibility of parents for their children’s upbringing and education” in August, 2011, citizens of the poorest country in Central Asia have mixed feelings — it’s good to make sure their kids will be prevented from going to places where future extremists and fundamentalists are raised. On the other hand, why does the government puts all the religious organizations in one melting pot as if they are going to ‘share’ their negative practices with each other?

To remind, the bill that bans minors from attending religious places of worship, was initiated by the President in December, 2010. It become effective right after it had been published by state media.

Article 8, one of the most contradictory points of the bill, lists parents’ responsibilities, who:

“must not allow children’s particiption in religious organizations’ activities, excluding children officially studying in religious establishments.”

I talked to a few Tajik friends of mine. Here are their opinions:

Mahmud

“I personally haven’t seen or heard about detains of the underage in mosques by either mullas or law-enforcement bodies’ representatives. As far as I know Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed their concerns regarding this particular Article 8 of the law.

I agree with some experts that the law goes against international human rights idea and concept. Prohibiting something for minors does not mean fixing a greater problem. Authorities better keep their enthusiasm to solve real problems instead.”

Sokhbat

“I’ve been watching minors coming to our mosques for three weeks and haven’t noticed that the number decreased. Especially during religous holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, which was after the adoption of the law.

I think that this law has been adopted in order to use it against Islamic Revival Prty of Tajikistan. Authorities do not want them to get more followers, especially out of the younger generation. They want to control the situation and make sure that religion is not going out of a worship place.

There are still law-enforcement agents in plain clothing in mosque crowds. Outside of mosques there are always police officers in their uniforms. Crowds always scare power-holders.”

As neweurasia reported in August, new law brought to negative reactions toward Tajikistan.

Khoji Akbar Turajonzoda, moderate religious leader and politician, former MP, said:

“Nowadays Muslims [of Tajikistan] are put against the choice, and they should indicate if they obey God’s will or this law that is against God and Islam.”

At the same time, Mavlono Said Jaloliddin Umari, Chairman of the Islamic Society of India, condemned the bill, and called it an “unjust, illogical and anti-religious” document.

“Tajikistan had already witnessed circumstances of the anti-religious policy of Soviet Union. Despite, the government of Tajikistan has gone against the will of its people by passing the bill [...] that alienates children from mosques and religion.”

International organizations, including human rights-oriented ones, expressed their concernes about a ban on mosque attendance among young people. Organization of Islamic Conference has put the matter before the Tajik authorities and is waiting for clarification.

One of the most influential spiritual leaders of Iran, Ayatollah Luftullo Sophie Gulpoygoni condemned the adoption of the law, and demanded that the Tajik authorities to officially apologize to the Muslims of his country and the world.

Religious figure also condemned the actions of the Tajik authorities, which do not allow women wearing the hijab to school in high schools, and promote their citizens not to give their children Islamic names, in particular, the prophets.

“[...]the actions of the Tajik authorities are aimed at destroying the Islamic identity of one Islamic nation.”