Why are some Muslim names excluded from Tajikistan’s official registry?

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Official Registry Excludes Certain Muslim Names Due to Cultural and Political Motivations

Tajikistan's official registry excludes certain Muslim names as part of a broader government initiative to promote national identity, curb foreign influence, and counter radical Islamism. President Emomali Rakhmon has stated that glorifying foreign names distances future generations from their historical origins, leading to the periodic updating and enforcement of a list of approved names. While the criteria for inclusion are not explicitly detailed, the policy has resulted in the exclusion of some names commonly found in Muslim cultures, such as Yassine, Amira, and Riyad, while others like Muhammad and Kareem remain permissible.
Promotion of Tajik National Identity

The government's policy on baby names is intrinsically linked to President Rakhmon's efforts to redefine Tajik national identity. This initiative aims to steer the country away from its Soviet legacy and assert a distinct cultural heritage. The emphasis on "Tajikness" is evident in the president's pronouncements, such as his 2019 statement deeming it "absolutely unacceptable" to "glorify the foreign in the choice of first names," arguing that such choices alienate younger generations from their roots.
Measures Against Foreign Influence and Radical Islamism

The exclusion of certain Muslim names is also a component of a wider strategy to tighten control over religious practices and suppress radical Islam. This is paralleled by other measures, including bans on the hijab and restrictions on long beards for young men, reflecting a concern over the recruitment of Tajiks into jihadist groups and the influence of groups like the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan. The government's stance is encapsulated in the repeated assertion, "I am proud to be Tajik first, and Muslim second."
Ambiguity in Name Approval Criteria

Despite the government's stated goals, the specific criteria for what constitutes an acceptable Tajik name remain vague. This ambiguity creates challenges for parents, as demonstrated by cases like Shakhnoza Nazarova, whose chosen name, Dunyo, was removed from the list after an update, leaving her in a bureaucratic impasse. Similarly, Gurdovarid Mamadjonova faced the prospect of her preferred name, Yasmina, being unavailable, with officials suggesting Tajik alternatives like Yosuman or Yosamin.
Balancing National Identity with Practical Realities

While President Rakhmon has sought to distance Tajikistan from its Soviet past, including by dropping the Russian "-ov" surname suffix for newborns in 2016, practical considerations present a complex reality. Tajikistan's economic dependence on Russia and the presence of hundreds of thousands of Tajik migrant workers in Russia mean that shedding Russian influence is not straightforward. For individuals like Alisher Rustamov, bureaucratic hurdles and the desire for easier integration into Russian society led to the abandonment of attempts to change names and documents.

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Why are some Muslim names excluded from Tajikistan’s official registry?

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