AKIPRESS.COM - The U.S. State Department in its 2017 Report on International Religious Freedom expresses concern over Tajik Government's attitude towards citizens.

The government continued to take measures to prevent individuals from joining or participating in what it considered to be “extremist” organizations, arresting or detaining more than 220 persons, primarily for membership in banned terrorist organizations and religious groups, including ISIS, “Salafis,” and Ansarrullah. Officials continued to prevent members of minority religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, from registering their organizations.

Since 2016, Tajikistan has been designated a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

The U.S. Ambassador and embassy staff met with the government to encourage adherence to its international commitments to respect religious freedom. Embassy officers continued to raise concerns about government restrictions on religious practices, interference with peaceful religious activities, rejection of attempts of minority religions to register their organizations, harassment of those wearing religious attire, and limitations on the publication or importation of religious literature.