Ihe southern Dagestan area of Russia, gunmen murder 15 police officers and other civiIn an official statement, President Rahmon Emomali stated that the action was taken to "protect ancestral values and culture."

With the approval of a legislation labelling the hijab as a "foreign garment," the mostly Muslim nation of Tajikistan is about to enforce a ban on the headscarf. As part of its ongoing attempts to stop public religious practice and the promotion of Tajik culture, the government has taken this action.

Moreover, the central-Asian nation where over 95 per cent of the population is Muslim, has also banned the custom of ‘eidi‘, children seeking money during Eid, in the country.

The hijab ban is the country’s latest development to promote its “secular identity.”

President Rahmon Emomali, in his official statement, said that the move was aimed at “protecting ancestral values and culture”. Earlier, he had also called hijab a foreign clothing.

Tajik-based Asia-Plus news reported that those violating the law will be subjected to hefty penalties, ranging from 8,000 to 65,000 Somoni which is equivalent to Rs 60,560 and Rs 5 lakh. Government officials and religious authorities who fail to abide by the new law will face much higher fines equivalent of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh respectively.

The bill to ban hijab was passed on June 19 during the 18th session of the upper house of the Tajik Parliament. In its bill, the house also approved the ban on children’s celebrations on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

In recent years, the Tajikistan government has been taking active steps to curb public displays of religiosity and actively promoting its culture by encouraging people to wear Tajik national attire.

Beards of 13K men shaved

In 2016, BBC had a report alleging that the Tajik police shaved the beards of 13,000 men and shut down 160 shops selling hijab as part of an “anti-radicalisation campaign.”

The new legislation, an amendment to the law on "traditions and celebrations," imposes fines ranging from $740 for individuals to $5,400 for legal entities found violating the dress code. This initiative extends a long-standing unofficial ban, with previous measures including prohibitions on students wearing Islamic clothing and pressure on men to shave their beards​

The report said that thousands of men were incarcerated for “adopting mannerisms alien and inconsistent with Tajik culture.” It said that maintaining a beard was considered among the gravest of offences.

Tajikistan Passes Bill to Ban Hijab Despite 98% Muslim Population

Moreover, President Emomali had also warned the Tajiks that “even in mourning, women must wear white and not black,” as black is commonly associated with burqa.

Hijab ban in schools

Education Minister Abdudjabor Rakhmonov reportedly advocated for a ban on the hijab in schools in a 2005 Al Jazeera article, claiming that the hijab was unconstitutional and should not be worn in secular institutions.

Additionally, he has voiced his worries about kids losing out on an education because they spend too much time at mosques. "A lot of people spend their evenings in mosques and neglect their homework," he had stated in 2005 during Ramadan.