U.S. proposes sanctions against Tajik security officials over religious repression
The Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for personal restrictions due to the country's limitations on religious expression. Dushanbe views the criticism as biased.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended targeted sanctions against members of Tajikistan’s security agencies, specifically officials from the State Committee for National Security and other law enforcement bodies. In a report published in 2024, the Tajik authorities are accused of serious violations of religious freedom and intensifying state control over religious life.
According to USCIRF experts, the situation in Tajikistan has reached a critical level. The government is accused of persecuting supporters of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party, denying registration to religious organizations such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, and enacting laws that restrict citizens’ right to freely practice their faith. These actions, the report says, violate Tajikistan’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Tajik authorities have not yet commented on the report, though they have previously expressed dissatisfaction with USCIRF’s conclusions, accusing its authors of bias and a poor understanding of local realities. Officials in Dushanbe assert that the country's religious policies are aimed at ensuring public stability, preventing extremism, and protecting a secular state order.
In recent years, Tajikistan has pursued a strategy to limit foreign religious influence. This includes bans on religious attire in public places, restrictions on mosque attendance for minors, and a prohibition on men growing beards. In spring 2024, the Tajik parliament passed a bill banning the wearing and sale of religious clothing for women, including hijabs and satras. Officially, the law is justified by the desire to preserve cultural identity and counter "ostentatious religiosity."
Men under 35 are prohibited from making the Hajj pilgrimage, minors under 18 are barred from visiting mosques, and the activities of imams, mosques, and all religious organizations are closely monitored by the state. According to Tajik authorities, such measures are essential to prevent religious radicalism.
Supporters of this strict approach in Dushanbe point out that there have been no major terrorist incidents in the country since 2019. Nevertheless, Western human rights organizations continue to criticize the policy, claiming it violates fundamental human rights.
Historical context plays a role in shaping government policy. Tajikistan endured a bloody civil war in the 1990s, during which Islamic groups fought to establish a theocratic state. This experience, officials argue, justifies the need for tight control over the religious sphere.
In the U.S. and several other countries, these policies are viewed as repressive. The new USCIRF report represents another instance of international pressure on Tajikistan over religious freedom. While sanctions have not yet been enacted, the commission's recommendation may serve as a basis for future U.S. foreign policy measures.
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