Tajikistan criticizes women's "divorced-from-morals" Western attire in a public scolding.
Spotlight on Tajikistan's Biased Broadcast Woes
In a surprising twist, local television stations in Tajikistan are causing a stir with their concerns over women's fashion.
Just this week, Khatlon, a station hailing from the southern region, aired a scathing critique of pop music artists' failure to uphold traditional Tajik values, instead pushing Western-style liberal norms through their attire.
Albina Abdusattor, the presenter, aired her grievances on February 26. She professed that Tajik singing sensations are more preoccupied with gaining popularity, rather than respecting the nation's heritage.
"Day after day, these female artists try to shorten their dresses, make them more sheer, and revealing," Abdusattor remarked. "By emulating Western clothing trends, these singers are propagating American and European fashion, but why don't they value our national dress?"
Abdusattor did not mention any specific artists by name, but footage of music videos featuring Mehrnigor Rustam, Farzona Khurshed, and Firuza Hafizova accompanied her comments.
Abdusattor's opinions have sparked a hot debate online. Most commentators seem to back her stance, fearing that growing permissiveness could erode traditional values in Tajikistan. Various solutions have been proposed, including banning offending artists from the country, prohibiting their performances, and even jailing them for a few years.
One Facebook user, Ismatullah Rajab, expressed his thoughts, writing, "It is the lawmakers who should be blamed. They should adopt a decree to condemn these kinds of singers and reject their performances at concerts and weddings."
Authorities are open to taking a more active role in shaping public culture.
In January, a new law regulating culture was approved by both parliament and the president, mandating artists performing abroad to coordinate their tours with the Tajik Culture Ministry. Akmal Olimshoyev, a lawyer at the Culture Ministry, explained that the measure was necessary as artists performing overseas represent their country on the global stage, and regulations are needed to monitor cultural representation in foreign lands.
Despite this, Tajik officials have long held the authority to control women's dress codes. Over the past decade, law enforcement officers have consistently reprimanded women for wearing the hijab, considering it at odds with Tajik culture. State television talking heads have routinely disparaged overly Islamic attire.
This initiative forms part of a larger strategy to discourage Islamic piety, which the Tajik government often associates with potentially violent religious extremism. Men's fashion remains untouched by this anti-Western shift, with authorities showing no concern for jeans, suits, T-shirts, or other modern attire perceived as unconventional.
- The debate sparked by Albina Abdusattor's criticism of pop music artists' fashion choices in Tajikistan extends beyond clothing to encompass other aspects of lifestyle and culture.
- The educational sector is considering incorporating courses on womens-health and general-news within its curriculum to broaden students' perspectives on various global issues.
- Some members of the scientific community argue that policies and legislation should be enacted to support research in health-and-wellness and fashion-and-beauty, as these industries play a significant role in shaping nations' economies.
- Critics claim that the criticism of Western-style music and fashion by Tajik authorities ignores the positive influence such trends can have on broadening societal views and promoting diversity.
- The ongoing controversy over women's fashion choices and music in Tajikistan highlights the need for open discussions on policy-and-legislation related to artistic expression and freedom of opinion in the country.
