Tajikistan: Oh Curse Thee, Scary Names

With a Talib’s eye for detail, the president of Tajikistan is updating his country’s inventory of undesirable people and things. Move over bearded footballers and hijab, scary names have landed in Emomali Rakhmon’s sights. 

Speaking to a group of schoolchildren, Rakhmon said parents should choose their children’s names from classical Persian poetry and avoid names derived from such frightening concepts as “war” and “wolves.” 

"I pay close attention to surnames and names when I appoint anyone to a leading post in the government," AFP quoted Rakhmon as saying. "Sometimes, reading surnames can make one shudder."

Rakhmon is infamous for his rules governing how Tajiks should live. One of his laws dictates how many people can attend a wedding; another draft law prohibits children from attending mosques and church. Indeed, many of the rules seem designed to counter (feebly) the growing influence of Islam in society. 

So why not ban Islamic names, too? 

That would be a little awkward. Rakhmon (who has already changed his own name once, dropping the Russian -ov suffix in 2007 and mandating all others do the same) bears a uniquely religious first name: Emomali -- or Imomali, as it is often transliterated -- is almost as important a figure in Islam as the Prophet himself.

In Central Asia, ironically, the two most vehemently Islamophobic leaders have the most Islamic names. Just look next door at Islam Karimov.