Tajikistan: Parliament to Mull Repressive Religious Legislation

Draft legislation pending in parliament would roll back religious freedom in Tajikistan. In its present form, the legislation would effectively institute limits on the number of mosques allowed to function in the country, and would make it virtually impossible for most religious denominations to gain official registration.

Tajik legislators are expected to mull adoption of the legislation soon after the current parliamentary recess ends in mid-August. Beyond the restrictive nature of the draft legislation, opponents criticize the secretive manner in which the government has acted to date, complaining that the full text of the draft law is not readily obtainable. "