Tajikistan: The Personality Cult of Emomali Rahmon

News:

Senior adviser to the Committee on Legislation and Human Rights of the Lower House of the Parliament of Tajikistan, PhD in Law Firuz Sainozimzoda, proposed to create a Center for the Study of the Messages of the President of Tajikistan at the Academy of Public Administration of the country. "The study and analysis of the messages of the President of Tajikistan allows us to more deeply understand the issues raised in them from the political and legal points of view. These messages, as an important political and legal instrument, play a key role in the formation of state policy, scientific research, as well as the improvement of the legislative framework of the country", - he said. Sainozimzoda also noted that the creation of the center will allow for comprehensive scientific research, analyze its impact on the socio-economic development of the country and make proposals for their implementation.

Comment:

Let us recall that all of Rakhmon's annual messages are already broadcast on all available television and radio channels. Also, the main points of the president's messages are read from the minbars of mosques, and university students are required to sit in classrooms and listen to these messages.

The personality cult of President Rahmon has evolved over time and has become one of the key elements of the country's political system. It manifests itself in various aspects of the country's social and cultural life.

One element of this cult is the numerous books written in his honor, as well as works allegedly authored by the president himself. Official publications actively publish biographies of Emomali Rahmon, telling about his "humble origins" and path to leadership. Many of them emphasize his role as the "savior of the nation" during the difficult period of the civil war in the 1990s. Some books portray him as a statesman and reformer, attributing to him the merits of ensuring stability and development. Books are published in Tajik and other languages, glorifying his contribution to the preservation of the culture, traditions and independence of Tajikistan. In educational institutions, students are introduced to his policies and biography through special sections in textbooks. Among the books written in honor of the president are such as, for example: "The Feat of Emomali Rahmon" - a documentary story, "The Recreator of Khatlon" and "The Recreator of Sogd" - books covering the achievements of the Khatlon and Sogd regions under the leadership of Emomali Rahmon, "Emomali Rahmon - one of the founders of the SCO". Books allegedly written by Emomali Rahmon: "Tajiks in the Mirror of History", "About Time and About Myself", "The Language of the Nation - the Being of the Nation", "Emomali Rahmon on the Modern World and Foreign Policy", "Emomali Rahmon's Water Diplomacy: from the First Step to...", etc.

In 2015, Emomali Rahmon received the official title of "Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation". Thus, the regime emphasizes his role in establishing peace after the civil war and in strengthening national unity, and there are other titles: "Savior of the Nation", "Gatherer of the Tajik Lands", "Father of the People". Monuments and busts of the president have been erected throughout the country, streets, squares, schools and other public facilities have been named after him. State media do nothing but cover the president's activities, praising his so-called "achievements" and leadership qualities.

Apparently, all this seemed insufficient to the minor official Firuz Sainozimzoda, and he decided, apparently hoping for career advancement, to come forward with yet another absurd proposal to strengthen Rakhmon’s personality cult in the country.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Muhammad Mansour