Proposed Tajikistani law could violate religious freedom

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan — Public consultation on Tajikistan’s controversial proposed Law on Parental Responsibility for the Education and Upbringing of Children ended March 15. Among the numerous new restrictions the draft imposes is to ban all participation by anyone under the age of 18 in religious activities — apart from funerals. As with the Religion Law, the draft Parental Responsibility Law is in parts extremely unclear, allowing much room for official arbitrary actions.

Local religious communities, independent legal experts and human rights defenders have condemned the draft law as violating the religious freedom of children and parents among other freedoms guaranteed by Tajikistan’s Constitution and international human rights conventions.