QURGHON TEPPA, January 20, 2016, Asia-Plus – 162 shops selling women’s religious clothing were shut down in Khatlon province last year, Bahrom Sharifzoda, the chief of the Interior Ministry’s office in Khatlon province, told reporters in Qurghon Teppa on January 19.

“162 shops selling women’s religious clothing that does not meet our national traditions were closed last year,” Sharifzoda said.

According to him, 6,873 local women cast off their hijabs (the Islamic head covering for women) last year.

“In 2015, we also detained 89 prostitutes that were wearing hijabs,” Sharifzoda said.

We will recall that in his Mother’s Day speech last year, 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; a few days later state television reported that sex workers are using hijab to drive up their prices.