Culture
The Tajiks belong to the Persian cultural
circle and have had great cultural significance for the
whole of Central Asia. Their Persian language was used
as a literary language in much of the area long after
the Persians lost their influence there.
In old cultural cities such as Samarkand and Buchara,
which is now located in Uzbekistan, the upper class
spoke Persian. In ancient times, the Tajiks were often
traders and skilled craftsmen, living along the
so-called Silk Road between China and Europe. Among the
resident Tajiks, the written word came to play a greater
role than for the nomadic people who had oral narrative
traditions.
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Countryaah:
Latest population statistics of Tajikistan, including religious profiles and major languages spoken as well as population growth rates in next three decades.
The oldest Tajik literature is considered part of
Persian. Perhaps the greatest Tajik writer is considered
to be Abu al-Qasim Firdawsi, who was born in the 900s in
Transoxania (see Modern History). The millennial
anniversary of his work The King's Book (Shah-name),
which is the Tajik and Persian national epic, was
celebrated in 2010. The renaissance of the old
traditions and the emphasis of the native language has
made Firdawsi popular today. In the capital Dushanbe, he
has had to replace Lenin as a statue.
Among the Tajik writers and poets of the 20th century
are Sadriddin Ayni and Mirzo Tursunzoda. Tajik poetry is
often performed with music. Falak is a popular form of
melancholy folk music.
 2020
May
The Minister of Health is dismissed
May 5th
Health Minister Nasim Olimzoda is dismissed by President Rahmon. No reasons
are given, only that Olimzoda is moved to another position. Tajikistan reported
its first 15 cases of coronary infection on April 30 after long diminishing the
threat of the pandemic. When the Minister of Health is replaced, the country has
293 registered cases of coronary infection and five deaths in covid-19.
April
Coronapandemin reaches Tajikistan
April 30th
Tajikistan has registered its first cases of covid-19, the disease caused by
the new coronavirus. Five people in Dushanbe and ten in the northern region of
Sughd have been tested positive. Thus, the corona pandemic has also reached
Tajikistan as one of the last countries in the world.
The migrant workers return home
April 17
Countries of Tajik migrant workers are forced to return home when job
opportunities in Russia and Kazakhstan disappear in the wake of the corona
pandemic and oil price collapse. The country's finance minister warns of major
negative consequences for the economy, as referrals from migrant workers make up
a large part of the country's income in foreign currency. The Finance Minister
estimates that the losses will be approximately $ 650 million. The government
has applied for $ 240 million in support from the IMF. Tajikistan has not yet
reported any case of coronary infection.
President Son becomes Senate President
April 17
Rustam Emomali, son of President Rakhmon, is elected president of the Senate.
He is unanimously elected by all senators. Some judges say that the election of
Rustam Emomali as Senate chairman is another sign that he is destined to succeed
the father in the presidential post eventually. According to the Constitution,
it is the Senate President who is deputy in the absence or resignation of the
President. Rustam Emomali is mayor of Dushanbe and will retain that post.
Support money from the World Bank
2 April
The World Bank presents a rescue package of $ 1.9 billion to be distributed
among 25 developing countries. The money is a contribution to the fight against
the corona pandemic. $ 11.3 million goes to Tajikistan, which at the time
reported no case of covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
March
Rahmon's party wins the election
March 1st
Parliamentary elections are held without any real opposition to President
Rahmon's ruling People's Democratic Party, which receives just over 50 percent
of the vote (47 of the 63 seats). Five other parties are taking office in
Parliament: the Agrarian Party (7 seats), the Economic Reform Party (5 seats),
the Communist Party (2 seats), the Socialist Party (1 seats) and the Democratic
Party (1 seats). This is the same position as in the 2015 election. The Social
Democratic Party, which is the only real opposition party, receives less than 1
percent of the vote. The turnout is 86 percent. OSCE election observers judge
the election as undemocratic and mention a number of irregularities and
shortcomings.
January
Over 100 Islamists arrested
January 28
The country's state prosecutor announces that 113 people have been arrested
for membership in the banned Islamist group Muslim Brotherhood. Among those
arrested are a regional civil servant from northern Tajikistan and about 20
employees at higher education institutions, including a university lecturer. The
arrests were made in December 2019. The Islamist party IRPT was banned and
terrorized by the government in 2015. The strongest opposition to President
Rahmon's regime has previously come from an Islamist perspective, but in the
March 2020 elections no more religiously based parties are represented.
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