Tajikistan: New Religion Law Draws Criticism from Rights Activists

Tajikistan has adopted a new religious law, but critics warn it will severely restrict religious liberty in the Central Asian country.

The legislation, titled On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations, was presented to parliament on March 5 and signed into law by President Imomali Rahmon on March 26, the Tajik news agency Asia-Plus reported. In explaining the motivation for the law, Minister of Culture Mirzoshohruh Asrori said that it was needed to address "recent public religious radicalism, nihilism, and some religious ideas alien to our people."

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a government agency, has described the new law as "hasty" and "harsh," adding that hundreds of mosques could face closure. USCRIF says it may place it on a "watch list" of countries violating the religious rights of citizens.