1990s because of the wave of emigration from Tajikistan in the early independence period. Freedom of religion The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respected this right in practice; however, there were some areas of concern. The status of respect for religious freedom eroded during recent years. Government policies reflected a concern about Islamic extremism, a concern shared by much of the general population. The Government actively monitored the activities of religious institutions to keep them from becoming overtly political. There were no closures of officially registered mosques, although the Government closed several unregistered mosques, prayer rooms, and madrassahs, and made the registration process to establish new mosques difficult. A Ministry of Education policy prohibited girls from wearing the hijab at public schools. The Government used the registration process to hinder some organizations' religious activity. Some religious organizations and individuals faced harassment, temporary detention, and interrogation by government authorities. As of 2013, Tajikistan was unique in the world because it was illegal for people under age 18 to practice religion publicly, which includes attending mosques. Women are not allowed by the government to enter certain mosques. Additionally, the government places strict limits on hajj visits and reportedly harasses devotees by forcibly shaving their beards after rounding them up. Some mainstream Muslim leaders occasionally expressed, through sermons and press articles, their opinion that minority religious groups undermine national unity. The Government, including President Emomali Rahmon, continued to enunciate a policy of active secularism. See also Demographics of Tajikistan References