A prayer house in Tajikistan. Photo from Ozodi.org
Tajikistan has significantly increased penalties for participating in and funding unregistered civil and religious organisations. According to the new amendments to the country’s Administrative Offences Code, the fine for leading a civil or religious group that has either not been registered by the authorities or has been explicitly forbidden by law has quadrupled, from 50 to 200 base units (BU, one base unit equates to 58 Somoni, or $5.80), writes Asia-Plus.
Participation in the activities of such groups carries a penalty of up to 100 BUs (5,800 Somoni), instead of the previous 7 BUs (406 Somoni).
Fines for foreign organisations and individuals who conduct religious activities without registering with the country’s authorities have also been increased – from the previous maximum of 20 to 100 BUs in the case of individuals, from 40 to 500 BUs for the leaders of foreign religious organisations, and from 300 to 1000 BUs for the organisations themselves.
Sanctions for funding the activities of illegal civil or religious groups, too, have been sharpened. In this case, the fine for ordinary individuals will rise from 12 to 50 BUs, for officials from 50 to 200 BUs and for organisations from 300 to 1000 BUs.
Local religious congregations who establish international ties with foreign organisations will be punished by a fine of up to 100 BUs (up from 40 BUs). Religious organisations who establish such ties without the authorisation of the Department of Religious Affairs will be fined by up to 300 BUs (previously 100).
The amendments to the Administrative Offences Code have similarly raised fines for the funding of local political parties by foreign citizens and international organisations.
