DUSHANBE, September 30, 2014, Asia-Plus - A statement, released by the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), notes that a fatwa by Tajikistan’s Council of Ulamo (Islamic clerics), saying that “cooperation with any media outlets whose goal is to destabilize Tajikistan is  a great sin for Muslims,” is just an opinion of clerics.  

Tajik media watchdog notes in its statement that Tajikistan is a secular state and guarantees freedom of speech under the constitution, and therefore, “other norms having social character cannot be recognized as obligatory for implementation.”  

We will recall that the fatwa that was announced at mosques during Friday Prayers on September 26 bar Muslims from cooperation “with destabilizing media outlets.”

Under this fatwa, cooperation with domestic and international organizations and political parties whose goal is to undermine public tranquility in the country will also be judged a great sin.