Ayatollah Makarem sends friendly message to Tajik president over veil comments

Rasa – Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi has condemned the President of Tajikistan for comments he made about the veil and offered him friendly advise, saying that such actions will have negative consequences.

News ID: 2490

Date: 10 May 2015 - 18:50

RNA – Speaking during his advanced jurisprudence course at Qom’s Masjid al-A’dham (Grand Mosque), Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi offered a recommendation to the President and the government of Tajikistan.

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said: “We [Iranians] have a friendly message to the President of Tajikistan: We have experienced this during the time of Reza Khan and even many of those buried in [Mashhad’s] Goharshad Mosque were martyred on this path, but the people did not surrender and revolted against Reza Khan and returned to the veil as it was worn before.”

In his Mother’s Day speech last month, Tajikistani President Emomali Rahmon criticized women who wear “foreign” clothing, especially the black veils associated with conservative Islam. Within days, officials began threatening shopkeepers who sell hijab, the Islamic head covering for women, saying that “strangers” are using these clothes in their drive “to promote obtrusive ideas and want to create another new extremist trend in our country.”

The revered source of emulation added: “Our friendly advice is to not continue these actions because the Holy Quran unequivocally states that Muslim must wear the hijab. There are several verses about the veil and throughout the world, Muslims are known by it.”

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi stressed that Muslims are facing a situation where unity between the people and the government must be sincere, warning: “This issue can create conflict between the government and the people of Tajikistan. God forbid if such conflicts occur when we face such a critical situation.”

He said that in regard to the veil, it is better to allow people to perform their religious obligations, as in essence, the veil is not something that can be denied or discouraged for Muslims.

“We have good relations with Tajikistan and its government, but the [prohibition] of the veil will have a negative result and we are hopeful that our message will be effective,” His Eminence concluded.

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