On June 19, 2024, the Tajik government passed a series of new laws targeting Islam in Tajikistan, where Muslims constitute 98% of the population ^(مرجع1).

The president of Tajikistan signed these anti-Islamic laws, approved by the parliament, under the pretext of preserving the original values of Tajik national culture.

The laws ^(مرجع2) ban the wearing of hijab or any Islamic attire, imposing a fine of $700 on violators. For government or religious officials, fines range from $4,800 to $5,100. If a company or institution allows an employee to wear the hijab, the institution faces a fine of $3,500.
Beards are also prohibited, with reports indicating that the police forcibly shaved thousands of beards in previous years ^(مرجع3).

Children are banned from participating in Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha rituals.

Moreover, those under 18 are prohibited from entering mosques for learning or even prayer. If a child is caught praying in a mosque, the parents will be punished ^(مرجع4).

Teaching in mosques is also prohibited under the pretext that it is not legal education, punishable by 5 to 12 years in prison ^(مرجع4).

These laws are so strict that, as reported last month, authorities barred women who did not wear traditional Tajik clothing from entering a local hospital and threatened them with fines ^(مرجع3).

These severe and anti-religious laws have prompted the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to call on the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Tajikistan. The U.S. Department of State was also recommended to re-designate Tajikistan as a Country of Particular Concern due to its systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom ^(مرجع3). This echoes the saying, “our situation is so dire that even the disbeliever would feel sorrow.”

Additionally, naming newborns with Islamic names such as Muhammad has been banned, and restrictions have been imposed on Tajik citizens wishing to perform Hajj ^(مرجع5).

Someone unfamiliar with Tajikistan might think these laws were passed in a country that worships Satan, but the truth is that Islam is the predominant religion in Tajikistan, with 98% of the population being Muslim. Most of them follow the Hanafi school of thought, accounting for 95% of the population, while the Ismaili Shia make up about 3%.

Islam entered Tajikistan in the first century of the Islamic calendar through conquests, becoming an integral part of the country’s culture, especially during the Samanid dynasty.

During the Soviet era, the regime tried to eliminate Islamic practices through strict secular campaigns, yet Islam remained resilient.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan experienced a noticeable religious revival. However, the current government is trying to suppress Islam in the country.

We live in a time filled with challenges and projects aimed at Islam and Muslims, but the greatest danger threatening us is not only these external challenges but also the heedlessness that has affected some Muslims regarding their role and responsibility towards their religion. Allah says: “And be not like those who forgot Allah, so He made them forget themselves. Those are the defiantly disobedient” [Al-Hashr: 19], reminding us that forgetting our role in Islam leads us to neglect the truth of what is being plotted against us.

Neglecting and failing to defend the principles of our religion and our rights makes us vulnerable to conspiracies. Allah, the Almighty, says: “If you turn away, He will replace you with another people, and they will not be like you” [Muhammad: 38]. The weakness we experience today stems from this neglect, but victory is promised by Allah for those who hold firmly to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ.

Despite this weakness and heedlessness, hope remains in the emergence of the truth and the rise of its banner.

Awakening begins with the individual, through his awareness and taking responsibility. Allah says: “If you help [the cause of] Allah, He will help you and make firm your feet” [Muhammad: 7]. As soon as we overcome our negligence and stand united in the face of challenges, victory will be ours, by the will of Allah.

We must raise our spirits and regain our strength through faith and certainty, knowing that Allah is with us as long as we are with Him. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Be mindful of Allah, and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him before you” (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi).