DUSHANBE, April 24, 2015, Asia-Plus -- The Committee on Religious Affairs and Regulation of National Traditions and Rituals under the Government of Tajikistan (CRA) applies to residents of Tajikistan with solicitation to help reveal swindlers engaged in issuing fake documents allegedly permitting to wear beards and hijabs.

According to a statement posted on the CRA’s website, unknown persons issue fake permits for wearing beards and hijabs to trusting people for 290.00 somoni each.

The CRA notes that there is no body in Tajikistan that would be authorized to issue such documents.  “Issuing documents permitting to wear beards and hijabs is absolute nonsense,” the statement says.

We will recall that in 2009, the Tajik government banned teachers from wearing beards.  Under a dress code introduced by the Ministry of Education, young male teachers are banned from growing beards.  Male teachers above the age of 50 are allowed to have beards, but not more than 1 centimeter in length.  The ministry''s dress code prohibits female teachers from wearing an Islamic headscarf or the hijab, which is banned in all state institutions.