Tajikistan bans black hijabs, Arab-style clothing and beards

Tajikistan has enacted a legal ban on black hijabs, beards and Arab-style clothing, saying such attire is inconsistent with the country’s national traditions.

According to local media, the authorities said the measures are aimed at countering religious radicalism and extremism.

Local officials have launched public awareness campaigns encouraging women to wear traditional Tajik clothing.

Law enforcement agencies have also stepped up checks on men wearing beards, which the authorities associate with religious extremism.