Tajikistan has announced substantial fines for importing, selling, and wearing clothes deemed foreign to the national tradition. This development comes as part of new regulations outlined in Article 18 of the revised law on the regulation of traditions and rites and the Code of Administrative Offenses, adopted by parliamentarians on May 8, 2024, reported Times of Central Asia.
“In the draft law ‘On the Regulation of Traditions and Rites,’ a corresponding prohibiting norm is included in part two of Article 18. For its violation, amendments and additions to Article 481 of the Code of Administrative Offenses provide for administrative responsibility,” Mavludakhon Mirzozoda, a deputy of the lower house of Tajikistan’s parliament, explained the legislative changes.
Article 481 of the current Code of Administrative Offenses now encompasses broader non-compliance with the norms of the Law on the Regulation of Traditions and Rites. According to this article, individuals will be fined TJS 7,920 ($733), officials TJS 39,600 ($3,665), legal entities TJS 57,600 ($5,333), and individual entrepreneurs, scientists, and religious figures TJS 54,000 ($4,998). For repeated violations, fines will range from TJS 46,000 to TJS 86,000.
While the recent amendments have updated the article, specific changes to the fine amounts remain to be confirmed. With the average wage in Tajikistan at approximately $172 a month, these fines represent a financial burden.
As per the current legislation, the amendments will come into force upon publication in the official press after approval by the Majlisi Milli (lower house) and the president’s signature. However, enforcement of the new regulations has already begun, despite the law not specifying which clothing is considered foreign to Tajik national culture.
Experts believe the law likely targets women’s national dress, although the text itself does not distinguish between men’s and women’s clothing. This legislative push aligns with ongoing efforts by Tajik authorities to promote national dress and discourage the adoption of foreign styles. Previous campaigns have included bans on black clothing, black headscarves, and hijabs, deemed alien to Tajik culture and traditions.
Although restrictions on mini-skirts, sweaters, dresses with cleavage, tops, and transparent fabrics were also introduced at one point, they were quickly “forgotten.”
Reactions within Tajik society have been mixed. In a street survey conducted in Dushanbe, some residents voiced their opinion that individuals should have the freedom to choose their own attire without compulsion. This reflects a broader debate within the country about the balance between cultural preservation and personal freedom.
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