61nal code in order to impose tougher punishments against witchcraft and sorcery.
Those who are accused of being involved in magic can be sentenced to up to seven
years in prison. In Tajikistan, as elsewhere in Central Asia, various forms of magic
and healing are part of the cultural tradition, which includes healing with plants,
rituals, charms and prayers.
Along with the collapse of public services and a deteriorating health care sys-
tem, traditional folk healing has become increasingly popular. People often com-
bine methods of folk and conventional medicine to ensure “double protection”.
The services of local healers are also attractive due to their modest cost compared
to the prices that professional doctors charge. Folk medicine is available almost
everywhere and is accessible to everyone.
Officially, the purpose of the ban is to prevent illegal and harmful practices. In
reality, however, it is aimed at limiting the influence of spiritual leaders, who are
held in high esteem by the general public. Rahmon and his government seek to
destroy religious networks and undermine the position of various families of noble
(religious) origin, especially those who do not want to succumb to the president’s
circle. As a result, he attempts to design a semi-secular version of religion based
on façade institutions and loyal people.
Despite the declaration of religious tolerance, the system developed by Rah-
mon can be referred to as authoritarian secularism, where religion is pushed to
the margins of public and social life and replaced by a new artificially created tra-
dition. The government and formal Islamic institutions have not attempted to en-
courage communication among different religious groups. Through limiting var-
ious religious activities, including Islamic education, they strengthen xenophobic
sentiments. The discussion on the country’s religious life is thus full of empty plat-
itudes, artificial statements and prohibitions. Under those circumstances any di-
alogue on religion or the nature of Islam remains impossible.
Anna Cieślewska is a researcher at the department of Iranian studies with the Institute
of Oriental Studies at the Jagiellonian University. She has spent the last 11 years
working on various research and development projects in the post-Soviet space.In search of the enemies of the state, Anna Cieślewska Opinion & Analysis