Turkish activists on Saturday staged a massive protest in front of Tajikistan consulate in Istanbul to denounce the practices of the Tajik government against Muslims.
The demonstration was organized by a group known as “OpenRafah,” which called for opposition to what it described as religious oppression in Tajikistan.
Protesters gathered in front of the consulate in Istanbul, chanting slogans condemning the Tajik government’s ban on the call to prayer (adhan), the wearing of the hijab, the celebration of certain religious holidays, and other restrictions imposed on practicing Islamic rituals in the country.
At the end of June, Tajikistan imposed new restrictions on wearing the hijab in public places, including schools, government hospitals, and even religious institutions. These measures are part of a package of laws aimed at “enhancing national identity and preventing superstition and extremism,” according to the Tajikistani government.
These restrictions have drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and Islamic groups, who view them as an assault on religious freedom and a constraint on the lives of Muslims in the country.
These groups believe the ban reflects a repressive government stance against Islamic religious expressions, exacerbating the suffering of Tajik Muslims.
