More than 1,200 people fined last year for violating the law on traditions and rituals
In 2025, courts in Tajikistan fined 1,268 citizens, including three public officials, for violating the law on regulating traditions, celebrations, and rituals. The total amount of fines imposed reached nearly 11 million somoni, of which about 7 million somoni has already been collected, according to the Committee for Religious Affairs and Regulation of Traditions, Celebrations and Rituals (Committee).
All penalties were issued under Article 481 of Tajikistan’s Code of Administrative Offenses. In total, courts reviewed 1,297 administrative cases during the year (compared to 1,435 cases in 2024), while 29 cases were dismissed.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee Farukhullo Olimzoda told a press conference that three public officials were among those fined, but did not disclose their positions or the amounts of the penalties. Under certain provisions of Article 481, fines for officials range from 780 to 117,000 somoni.
Most applications for religious review rejected
The Committee also reported the results of state religious expertise conducted in 2025. Of 1,116 applications submitted for the review of religious materials, 708 received negative conclusions, while 408 were approved.
Materials submitted for analysis included:
· 3,866 titles of religious literature;
· 4,313 pages from user internet resources;
· 1,038 video recordings;
· 71 mobile phones;
· 12 flash drives;
· 1 laptop.
According to the Committee, negative conclusions were issued for materials found to contain signs of extremism.
For comparison, in 2024, out of 550 applications, 292 were rejected and 258 approved.
Under Article 22 of the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations, religious literature imported into Tajikistan must undergo mandatory state religious review. However, authorities note that not all sellers comply with this requirement.
The procedure for conducting such reviews is defined by a government resolution. Previously, a list of banned religious literature was published on the Committee’s website, but it is currently not publicly available, despite an increase in prohibited materials. This lack of transparency, officials note, creates additional difficulties for citizens seeking to purchase or distribute religious literature.
All penalties were issued under Article 481 of Tajikistan’s Code of Administrative Offenses. In total, courts reviewed 1,297 administrative cases during the year (compared to 1,435 cases in 2024), while 29 cases were dismissed.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee Farukhullo Olimzoda told a press conference that three public officials were among those fined, but did not disclose their positions or the amounts of the penalties. Under certain provisions of Article 481, fines for officials range from 780 to 117,000 somoni.
Most applications for religious review rejected
The Committee also reported the results of state religious expertise conducted in 2025. Of 1,116 applications submitted for the review of religious materials, 708 received negative conclusions, while 408 were approved.
Materials submitted for analysis included:
· 3,866 titles of religious literature;
· 4,313 pages from user internet resources;
· 1,038 video recordings;
· 71 mobile phones;
· 12 flash drives;
· 1 laptop.
According to the Committee, negative conclusions were issued for materials found to contain signs of extremism.
For comparison, in 2024, out of 550 applications, 292 were rejected and 258 approved.
Under Article 22 of the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations, religious literature imported into Tajikistan must undergo mandatory state religious review. However, authorities note that not all sellers comply with this requirement.
The procedure for conducting such reviews is defined by a government resolution. Previously, a list of banned religious literature was published on the Committee’s website, but it is currently not publicly available, despite an increase in prohibited materials. This lack of transparency, officials note, creates additional difficulties for citizens seeking to purchase or distribute religious literature.
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