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TAJIKISTAN: As part of an "anti-radicalisation campaign", police in the Khatlon region reportedly shaved the beards of 13,000 men and shut down 160 shops selling the hijab, reported BBC earlier this week.
According to the report, hundreds of thousands of men have been arrested in recent years for adopting mannerisms "alien and inconsistent with Tajik" culture — maintaining a beard is considered among the gravest of these offences.
The BBC interviewed nine men who said they had been detained in the street and forcibly taken to the police department for an arrest, or to a barber shop to be shaved.
Women are given their own prescriptions: their dress, the government has stated, must be in traditional Tajik colours. Black, the colour most commonly associated with the burqa, is automatically outlawed in these circumstances.
"Even in mourning, Tajik women [should] wear white, not black," President Emomali Rakhmon has warned the Tajiks.
The fear of 'alien values'
President Emomali Rahmon has been ruling the country since 1994 and is soon expected to approve a legislation that will promote secular values, which includes banning Arabic-sounding and "foreign" names officially.
With sections of the Middle East and Asia falling to extremism and militancy, the Central Asian states increasingly fear the spread of radicalisation.
Estimates suggest that between 1,500 and 4,000 Central Asians could have joined different militant groups in Syria, as of June 2015.
In response, countries like Tajikistan have launched official campaigns and taken measures that discourage Islamic cultural practices. In September last year, Tajikistan's Supreme Court banned the Islamic Renaissance Party, which is the only registered Islamic political party in the Muslim-majority country, Al Jazeera reported.
President Rakhmon has also warned Tajiks: "Don't worship alien values, don't follow alien culture. Wear clothes of traditional colours and cut, not black."
The fight for secular values
The fight to maintain secular values has affected men, women and children alike. The state has placed a ban on hijabs in all educational institutions, and state institutions follow the same rule.
Parents are discouraged from giving their children Arabic names, and are pressured to opt for more traditional and familiar Tajik names.
According to the BBC report, Tajik police said they shut down 160 shops that sold the hijab, and convinced over 1,500 women to stop wearing the Islamic code of dress.
In the south-west region of Khathlon, police reported that law enforcement agencies have successfully convinced over 1500 women to stop wearing headscarves.
Even though Tajikistan is a 99% Muslim, atheism was encouraged during 70 years of Soviet rule.
'Do not shave'
One man, Djovid Akramov, said he was outside his house with his seven-year-old son when the police intercepted him and rushed him to a station to remove his beard.
"They called me a Salafist, a radical, a public enemy," Djovid told the BBC. "And then two of them held my arms while another one shaved half of my beard."
Shaving off men's beards is not an unprecedented response to battling extremism, since growing a beard is a traditional Islamic practice.
The Taliban have particularly warned men against shaving their beards. In Pakistan, a barber shop in Buner was found with a 'do not shave' warning written across its front window, reportedly by militants.
Upper Dir Barbers in the town of Darora were also warned to stop shaving beards, the residents told Dawn in 2008. A threatening leaflet was circulated by a group of the Taliban, after which barbers stopped trimming and shaving beards completely.
Comments (94) Closed
secularism is the future. Respect other and be respected.
Great freedom of expression ! Shaving forcefully beards and closing hijab stores are not even allowed in countries like USA and Canada !
Prvention is better than cure
This is no different from ISIS/Taliban who were/are forcing people not to Shave
Radical secularism will get a radical reaction, curbing personal liberties and cultural practices dissolved USSR. Dictators always find ways for their humiliated exit and this won't be the last one.
These are good steps, but too quick and too early. Such changes should come over the period of at least 15 years.
Very good
What is radicalism ? Is growing beard is radicalism,no definitely not radicalism is acceptance of certain theories of Islam people have misinterpreted the meaning radicalism in reality is against any kind of terrorism,Islamic radicalism does not teaches racial,facial and religious discrimination,it teaches love instead,there is no link between radicalism and terrorism,terrorism is an invisible war fought basically by twisting certain elements and is fought for money,power and fame .
Another side of extremism.
Brilliant moves, I think the countries who do not have sufficient armies,for them prevention is better than cure....
@Khan- Pakistani At least they are doing something to stop radicalization unlike other Muslim countries
Madness This will never stop radicalisation
Change the mind not the shape
May that is the way to go.may be they getting sick and tired of radicalization .we are still not.
This is not the solution of the problems. This requires education such as having a beard or wearing a hijab does not automatically make you a Muslim or good Muslim. It is your practice and attitude which makes you a better human being. It is also not necessary that a religious belief makes you a good person. The main culprits are those who distort a religion's teachings and they should be rounded off. In the case of Tajikistan, the mullahs should be apprehended and their acts and speeches should be tightly controlled. They should not be allowed to go unpunished for creating hatred and anarchy.
@Khan- Pakistani .... This is a former part of the Soviet Union. They lay down the law and people won't parade in the streets for their rights. The majority agree with the president because they want to be safe from internal terrorism.
Only in dictatorships both democratic and theocratic can such things happen ... only to bounce back later with vengeance and bloodshed.
@indiana this is slavery not securalism. People dont have a choice to dress and look , the way they can. Maybe you need to educate yourself
Radicalisation is a state of mind, not the beard or the hijab! Rather educate the people about the real values of the religion.
Rather stupid. No better way to alienate citizens who want to live a more conservative and religious life.
Shaving forcefully beards and closing hijab stores in muslim countries not justify Tajikistan Govt r not rights.
People don't get lesson from history, In Turkey they forcefully ban Hijab, now today what? Islam is from Heart, forcefully stopping something will never be a solution
Insane people.
They need similar action against corruption.
They think this will reduce radicalization? This actually promotes it! What happened to freedom of expression?
Muslim countries should allow the freedom of choosing lifestyles. Even modi can't dare to force Muslims what Tajik president is doing.
This is not the secularism!! , it is worst then hitler's way of governance!! How one can be this cruel on their people and yet claim to be so secular?!
The family run dictator can go to shamefull methods to consolidate their grip on power. These family run dictators in central asia is left overs from communist era
You don't wear extremism on your face, it is carried in the head. Obviously this is not the right way to deal with it.
I have read the same news in other international media brands. None talked about forced shaving of the beards. Most said men and women were convinced to give up beard and veils, respectively.
if you force anything on anyone...it only comes back to bite you.
stupid idea, This is what happen when people with no knowledge of religion and culture rules. Bad Idea by Tajik
@indiana You must be pretty twisted to think that forcibly shaving beards off is "respect." These kind of acts his create more radicals and serves as propaganda.
Secularism does not prevent people to practice their belief, it provides a safety net for the minorities to live their lives without being forced to follow majority ideology. Difference of belief and opinion are natural to humans and we all should respect each others way of lives. We should create strong laws against hate and prejudice regarding demeaning of any belief system. Respect for diversity can bring peace in the world.
It is not fair or human. Forcibly cutting beard and closing hijab shops will increase radicalization rather than decreasing. How the person dress up or keep himself groomed is a personal choice and nobody should object, otherwise not much difference between IS and you. If you kill innocent persons whether belonging to your own religion or different religion for any claimed cause will never be acceptable by any sane person or any religion.
Forcing people to shave bears and shutting down Hijab stores is another extremism!
USA is the best country in the world, no one forces anyone to have or not to beard!
Follow the law of the land, they took this action after many ended up in Syria. What Pakistan is doing? Afghan borders are till porous, Taliban are free to go across borders and can enter any college or university; Pakistan should have one institute which should only focus in such issues and give suggestion on daily basis.
@IamPakistan better side of extremism.
@indiana love you for that
At least some people have senses in this stupidity-dominated world.
@Khan - Pakistani: I suppose forcing people not to shave and wear certain type of clothings is also not desirable.
This is exactly the recipe for spreading more extremism.
this is a good step towards moderate values !!!!
Where are UN and human rights NGOs now?
There is need on war footings by NGOs to revisit the system of education in all countries. There must be education about the theme of Religion rather going into controversial practices. The main objective of religion is to respect human values when human love is missing from all parts of countries; otherwise, there would have been no wars except peace. The other part is social justice and equality. Today superior arms and forceful occupation is order of the day. Weak nations are dictated not to have such arms or not do this. This is not justice or way to address the human sentiments. All human needs respect and safety. In the name of ISIS, there is crackdown by arresting/shaving beard of innocent Muslims, thus making more terrorists. How long some countries shall practice inhuman threats against weak.
this is what we call liberal or secular extremism. Mr.emamoli rahmon should know that extremism gives rise to further extremism. this is a violation of the basic rights of the people and the president is sowing the seeds of extremism in his society with his own hands.
Need to simplfy Islam that preaches by Saints that respect others. Then ultimately bearded person would be friends not foe.
this is called secular or liberal extremism and extremism gives rise to more extremism.
this is called secular or liberal extremism and extremism gives rise to more extremism.
These dictators in former soviet states are the cause of unrest among that part of region. These barbaric tactics will not change anything good for these dictators but bring more resistant among masses.
This is interesting. My hunch is if you deny a person something then they want it even more. They then see themselves as the oppressed. It becomes like a "cause celebre". Its just human nature. Tajiks would be better off just promoting their own culture and arts with greater enthusiasm instead.
Sanity cum balance returning to the new world.
Very brave for Tajikistan to be the first one to take this step. They are proud of their culture and history and don't want to follow other cultures.
Good Decision. Fundamentalism leads to Extremism. Extremism leads to Terrorism. Tajiks are following Turkey's Example...Turkey was on the same progressive path & then Erdogan ruined everything..
Pakistan and India should follow suit. We are not Arabians.
Oh no so much of intolerance. Intellectuals should wake up and return awards.
@Inqelab Zindabad Prevention is only option when there is no cure
This is in itself a manifestation of extremism. Instead improve the economic situation of the country, educate the masses, broaden their vision, teach them to respect humanity and not just the Muslims.
Dictatorial system in action.
they thinks this will stop radicalization? It will make it worse.
Excellent that is the only way to stop the madness
Kemal Ata turk did same in Turkey.
Fighting Radicalism with Radicalism ... this will breed more trouble.
true face of secularism
Two wrongs cannot make one right. Tajik rulers should educate themselves what secularism is. Shame
@indiana true what you say but when you force people to shave their beards and wear clothes and colours in line with government directives then I am afraid it cannot be called secularism but something else......
We don't need Donald Trump or other islamo-phobic right-wingers to instill fears among Muslims. Our fellow-Muslims, aka, puppet regimes, are doing such a wonderful job of it within their own borders.
Sign of the end times.
Backward and shameful behavior.
It is better to guide them to evolve over a time period. Evolution is better than revolution. Revolutions have drastic reactions.
Since when beard and hijab are representing extremism ? This notion is itself an absolute extremism !
Exactly what the Shah of Iran did You know what happened next
So how are they different from Saudi anf for that matter Belgium. Backward thinking is rampant.
Radicalism is NOT enforcing democracy or enforcing secularism but it is when people follow gods suggestions that prevent society breakdown
@Khan- Pakistani --USA and Canada are not suffering from the malaise that Muslim countries like Tajikistan and Pakistan are suffering from. These countries need intensive care treatment to rid themselves of religious extremism.
@Ali --You got that right. Learn from Turkey's example. No more sick man of Europe.
It is Tazak's problem and they deal with their own way. They never come to you to guide or advise what to do with home grown hard core religiosity problem. You have your own way to tackle. Advise your own respective government how to curb terrorism.
you dont need a burqa and a beard to be good muslim, just a pure heart and strong faith.
Yes it is another form of extremism but I so very agree with this statement of his " "Don't worship alien values, don't follow alien culture." We should learn at least this.
That means, reforms are needed to such an extents.
onpy one word miserable
Inhuman action by Tajik administration. Will they come back to these helpless people to shave them every month?
@Khan- Pakistani .....US has more freedom of expression than Pakistan, so do not be confused by Trump type creatures. We are free to worship in the US, no one bothers us, there is no problem between shia sunni or christians and jews, its a few radical noise makers, but on the whole, Americans respect muslims in the US. I have lived here 35 years and their only fear is when San Bernadino happens and that is a natural fear.
Where are the human rights activists on this issue? That's right...they don't care because Muslims are suffering. #Selective humanity
Another side of extremist mind. Its not necessary to be religiously extremist, the example is here in the form of tajik president. By the way In europe now a days beard is a fashion and is upto the person to choose. This is the same attitude as terrorist group like Talibans, the difference is they force to keep beard and here they force to remove. Both got extremist mentality
Beauty is skin deep. Efforts should be made to change the mentality of the brutal radicalized segments of the society. Shaving beards and banning burqas do not serve the purpose. Changing the appearance of the people does not change their thinking. A man may die, nations may rise and fall but an idea lives on.
Its what in your heart and on your mind that matters, forcing Beard or no beard, forcing Hijab or no Hijab and simply using force is not the solution except a good education that is based on facts not myths.
Great initiative... hats off to Tajikistan government
An example of the communist regime still surviving in Central Asia, these acts are very effective way to promote Isis than to destroy it.Such dictators leave no democratic choice for their people and they themselves force them into the arms of extremists by such actions.
Great Move, must be followed by other countries
Khan Saab, why do we always define "norms" by US/Canadian standards? I don't believe that doing so evinces self-esteem.
Wow !! Good step by tajak government, future is belong to secular world but government have to convice people's if they want to put secular values in upcoming next genration..dont force people's for shave or ban hijab but let them teach Tajikistan culture and their values, traditions, customs, rituals..and separate religion from government. .turkey all ready set some fine example to world That will be better step
what a radical government!
@Mustafa Modi is not a dictator but a democratically elected Prime Minister and India is democratic country where Govt has nothing to do with the religion.