OSCE Centre in Dushanbe

Encouraging free expression

"Discrimination against girls and women under the pretense of Islamic values resurfaced after the collapse of the Soviet Union," says Henk Hulshof, Head of the Office in Khujand. "Violations of women's rights have penetrated Tajik society to such an extent that even the women affected sometimes do not realize they have equal rights to men."

The seminars aim to increase awareness of women's rights while adhering to the tenets of the Muslim faith and to help participants see the issue from other perspectives. In Tajikistan, the debate of a woman's role in the community focuses on the intricate relationship between tradition and religion.

Tradition and religion

"Shariah law does not inherently discriminate against women," Tahmina Khakimova of the OSCE Field Office in Khujand explains. "There is no justification in Islam for allowing only boys to attend school, or to marry out adolescent girls to a life of subservience to a husband. Yet these are common practice in Tajikistan. Customs and traditions are often confused with faith.''

Participants in the seminars include religious leaders, teachers, housewives, husbands, students and other informal community leaders. Local women's committees from rural districts aid the selection of participants.

Looking closely at Islamic law

One exercise involves listing local traditions and identifying which of them are prescribed by Islamic law. In the northern city of Matcha, a list of 18 customs is created during a brainstorming session. When asked how many of these traditions are based on religious doctrine, the participants pick 11. One of the instructors, an expert in Islamic theology, identifies only four.

Surprise ripples through the crowd, particularly from the women. Protesting, one woman asks: "Are you saying we should not celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed?" The theologian explains that the Islamic holy books don't require Muslims to celebrate his birthday. "I'm not suggesting you shouldn't celebrate this day, but rather you need not feel obliged under Islamic law. This is the difference between tradition and religious law."

"After our analysis, I've come to realize men and women are equal," an older man says. He asks the other male participants: "Why do we treat our women so badly? When we return home for tea, we demand that our wives bring it to us instead of asking. We treat our women as if they are below us, as if their only role is to serve us. But this is not fair. Even if women know their rights, it is us, the men, who should change our actions and treat women as equals."

Spreading new ideas

In villages like Chilgasy and Mastcho, limited contact with the outside world make the spread of new ideas difficult. Information reaches the people chiefly through the mosque and the madrassa (Islamic school). In Isfara, having finished the seminar only days before, a group of young women identify community needs and ask for help.

First on their list is an information centre. While the town has one Internet café, it is prohibitively expensive. In the madrassa, they only learn the Koran. They want a place where they can learn English and access the Internet and other educational material. With greater access to information, they hope to gain a better understanding of Islam. With some assistance, another channel for the free exchange of ideas can be opened.