Press Release: Parliamentary Elections in Tajikistan

Parliamentary Elections in Tajikistan
(Translated)

According to a decree issued by President Emomali Rahmon, the regular elections for members of the Assembly of Representatives (Majlisi Namoyandagon) were scheduled to take place in March 1, 2015, by direct public polls. There will also be elections of deputies to the National Assembly (Majlisi Milli) from the newly elected members by the Tajik National Assembly in March 27, 2015. The previous elections for the House of Representatives in the Tajik’s parliament were held on February 28, 2010. As it is known, the Tajik’s parliament consists of two chambers; where the 63 members of the Assembly of Representatives are elected; 41 of them are directly elected by single-member constituencies and 22 members are elected through lists of political parties in nationwide constituencies. Whereas the National Assembly consists of 33 members. According to the amended election law, polling stations abroad could be at the formal diplomatic missions of the Republic.

The organization of such an event and participation in democratic elections is a great sin, and is not permissible for Muslims to participate. Democracy is a system that gives human beings the right to determine what is permitted by the Parliament and other institutions. This means that democracy puts human being at the place of Allah Almighty in legislation; giving him the right to legislate laws, which leads to the absence of Allah’s rule in life. While Islam does not consider the human “free”, instead considers him a servant of Allah; he obeys Him in all His Command, succumbs to His Authority and submits that He (swt) is the only Legislator. Allah Almighty says,

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَن يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا
“Have you not seen those who claim to have believed in what was revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you? They wish to refer legislation to Taghut, while they were commanded to reject it; and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.” [An-Nisaa: 60].

Accordingly, we call on Muslims in Tajikistan not to participate in the elections or vote for any candidate, even if it glossed over by Islam, such as the Islamic Renaissance Party, and to show opposition to them. These elections are false and a mere scene wherein the “owners” of it share the so-called “the elected representatives of the people”.

Central Media Office
of Hizb ut Tahrir