Strategies of Emomali Rahmon, leader and president of Tajikistan in managing modern politics, culture, and religion
Author: Dr. Yaqub Yasno, professor of history, culture, and literature, member of the Sangar Advisory Board.
INTRODUCTION
In 2015, I was invited to Tajikistan to participate in the celebration of Navruz. Persian-speaking scientists from all over the world were invited to this celebration. It was a very grand celebration. I was familiar with the name of Mr. Emomali Rahmon, the leader and president of Tajikistan, fortunately, I saw him closely on this holiday, I was a listener of his speech on Navruz and I realized that Emomali Rahmon wholeheartedly cares about culture, national and folk holidays of Tajiks and Persian-speaking peoples.
When I arrived in Afghanistan, I wrote an article "Dear Emomali Rahmon, Leader and President of Tajikistan - Jamshed of our days" in Afghan publications, in the 24th issue of the Payvand magazine and in the newspapers of the Republic of Tajikistan. The late Subhon Koshonov, head of the executive committee of the Association of Tajiks and Persian Speakers of the World, called and thanked me. I mentioned in this article that Emomali Rahmon is, in fact, the Jamshed of our time. This reminder was due to the fact that King Jamshed was the founder of the celebration of Navruz, but in our time, due to the religious extremist view, the celebration of Navruz and other celebrations and cultural traditions of our ancestors and peoples began to disappear. Therefore, a revival was required, fortunately, the revivalist of the celebration of Novruz and other folk cultural traditions of Tajiks and Persian speakers in our time is Emomali Rahmon. Based on this, he is the Jamshed of our time.
In this article, I want to discuss Emomali Rahmon's wise, tolerant, and rational leadership of the Tajik people, a highly cultured nation. We are all witnesses and see how the countries of the region from the Middle East to Afghanistan, a neighbor of Tajikistan, suffer from religious extremism and other violence. The Tajik people must be aware of all this extremism and violence.
Fortunately, Emomali Rahmon, the leader and president of Tajikistan, managed to protect the people of Tajikistan from extremism and religious violence. Therefore, the Tajik people should appreciate this worthy person and their wise leader and understand how important, influential, and beneficial his political and cultural presence is in his destiny.
In the promotion and management of modern politics, culture, and traditions of Tajiks and Persian-speaking, as well as religious issues, Emomali Rahmon behaved very tolerantly, rationally, and wisely and used politics, culture, and religion for the benefit of the security, political and social stability of the Tajik society.
POSITION OF EMOMALI RAHMON IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MODERN AND PROGRESSIVE POLITICS
The position of Emomali Rahmon in managing the modern politics of Tajikistan can be accurately understood by the Tajik people when they look at the countries of the region, especially the Persian-speaking countries. We have all seen that the Taliban in Afghanistan are hostile and against everything related to progress, modernity, and modern politics. Women are not allowed to work and study. People suffer from extremism and religious violence, and dozens of domestic and international terrorist groups operate freely in the country, torturing and killing people. In Iran, the government has problems with women. Because the government wants women to comply with the hijab.
Fortunately, Emomali Rahmon is a supporter of modernity and progress in Tajikistan, and with the help of modern politics, he leads the socio-political situation in the country to security, comfort, and progress. In his speeches, he mentions Tajik women as mothers and sisters of the Tajik people, supports women's freedom and human rights at various social and political levels, and women study and work in every department, office, and position. The truth is that women in other Farsi-speaking countries do not have the happiness that Tajik women have.
In the book “Gulistan” Saadi says that the value of peace and security can be understood by those who suffered and lived in war. My message to the Tajik people is that the Tajik people should understand and appreciate the security, freedom, and peace in Tajikistan. The fact is that this security and freedom were achieved not simply, but thanks to the leadership and wise political management of Emomali Rahmon.
The people of Afghanistan and other countries in the region suffer from the lack of modern politics because the leadership of their governments is not committed to the principles and values of modern and progressive politics, or they do not have a correct understanding of the principles and values of modern politics and modern human freedoms. But Tajikistan maintains modern values and human freedoms. Naturally, this support is provided by the leadership of the Tajik government headed by Emomali Rahmon. The truth is that our country needs a resourceful and knowledgeable person, like Emomali Rahmon, who is committed to modern values, and progressiveness and will lead society, government, and country toward modernity and progress. Unfortunately, in our country, there is no such leader who understands the good, prosperity, and development of the country in progress and modernity and strives to bring progress, security, and modernity.
Terrorist and extremist groups exist in Afghanistan and the region, and they seek to infiltrate the people of Tajikistan and push their mentality toward extremism, and violence and violate the security of society. Fortunately, the rational and realistic policy of Emomali Rahmon is like living water for the Tajik people and Tajikistan in such a situation. His correct, wise, and timely leadership ensured the safety and tranquility of the Tajik people and Tajikistan.
What I wrote here, maybe people will say that Yaqub Yasno shows interest and devotion to Emomali Rahmon. But the fact is that I am interested in and devoted to the culture and traditions of the Tajik people and I want to protect this culture and traditions from extremism. It is gratifying that the President of Tajikistan, with his leadership and correct policy, has well preserved the culture and traditions of the Tajik, Aryan, and Persian-speaking peoples. Based on this, I am interested and confident in Emomali Rahmon.
Most importantly, I am from a country where its people share a common language, culture, and even ethnicity with the people of Tajikistan. But, unfortunately, due to the spread of extremism and violence, we have lost all our values. Why did we lose? Because we did not have a leader like Emomali Rahmon who was realistic, rational, and committed to modern and progressive values in order to preserve our security, freedom, and cultural values. If you pay attention to the damage done to the people of Afghanistan, then you can understand the essence of Emomali Rahmon's leadership in Tajikistan: to protect and protect your country.
EMOMALI RAHMON'S PLACE IN THE PROMOTION OF TAJIK, PERSIAN, AND ARYAN CULTURE
As for the place of Emomali Rahmon in culture, I consider it necessary to cite a story. I was in Tehran a year ago. Took a taxi to go to Cinemapark. The driver was a tidy person. He asked me where you are from. I said from Afghanistan. He said that the language of the people of Afghanistan and Tajikistan is Persian, like in Iran, and we speak the same language. He spoke about ancient holidays such as Navruz, Chilla, Mehrgan, Sada, and others, and expressed concern that these holidays are not given much attention in Farsi-speaking countries, except for Tajikistan. He asked me if I know why people in Tajikistan pay attention to the Aryan holidays, and they go well. Before I began to express my opinion, he got ahead of me and said: “Because in Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, the real son of the Aryan and Iranian land, is the president. He appreciates the culture and holidays of the Aryans and our ancestors.” He stressed that Persian-speaking countries need to have a leader like Emomali Rahmon from their own Aryan descendants. This is the opinion of an Iranian citizen about Emomali Rahmon, the leader and president of Tajikistan. This opinion is very significant. Why? Because it expresses the cultural status of Emomali Rahmon outside of Tajikistan and is also a true and accurate opinion.
If you pay attention to the fact that the President of Tajikistan pays attention to the culture, traditions, and holidays of the ancestors and protects this culture, then in other Iranian-speaking countries little attention is paid to the Aryan culture and one can even see opposition to the culture of the ancestors. The Taliban in Afghanistan opposed the celebration of Navruz, and canceled and banned its celebration. In such a situation, when Aryan culture and holidays are not respected, fortunately, according to the same citizen of Iran, Tajikistan has a real Aryan son, such as Emomali Rahmon, who protects Aryan culture and holidays and, together with the Tajik people, represents this culture in everything the world.
Mahatma Gandhi said: “The culture of the countries of the world should blow on Indian culture like a breeze, and with this breeze, there should be an interaction between Indian culture and the cultures of the world, which will lead to the flourishing of Indian and world culture. But the culture that intends to invade and destroy Indian culture is not the culture that we accept.” The cultural policy of Emomali Rahmon is an example of Gandhi's words. Because the president of Tajikistan is not biased towards the culture of the countries of the world and wants the Tajik people to get acquainted with all the cultures of the world. He wants the Tajik culture and the countries of the world to interact and flourish. At the same time, he opposes such a cultural encroachment, when a foreign culture wants to destroy the Tajik culture and language and replace them with other cultures and languages.
Emomali Rahmon in his book "The Language of the Nation - the Existence of the Nation" explains very well how important culture and language are for the existence of the nation itself: "If we look at the history of the languages of the world from the beginning until the present day, we see that the language of each people in all periods history reflects the level of development of thinking of its owners, the degree of material and spiritual progress. In other words, the more developed and productive a nation is, the more powerful, productive, and sustainable the language is.” It is true that Tajik culture is very important to Emomali Rahmon, but thanks to his correct and scientific understanding of the global function of culture, he has a suggestive and realistic approach to Tajik, Aryan, Islamic, and Western culture in managing politics and culture.
Countries usually have national, folk, and religious cultures, as well as imported cultures. Tajikistan also has national and folk culture, religious culture, and modern culture. National and folk culture is the culture of the ancestors and indigenous people of the Tajik people, religious culture is Islamic culture, and modern culture is a culture created as a result of new global interactions. In some countries, there are usually extremes in culture management. For example, the Taliban in Afghanistan practice a religious culture with violence and force, they oppose and are hostile to national and popular culture such as Nowruz and modern culture. In Iran, more attention is paid to religious culture. But Emomali Rahmon maintains interaction and balance with Islamic and modern culture in cultural policy, given the centrality of the national, folk, and indigenous culture of the Tajik people and the territory of Tajikistan.
The fact that the Tajik and Aryan culture is at the center of the cultural policy of the President of Tajikistan is explained by the fact that the president of each country must, first of all, be the guardian of the culture of his people and country, because there are dozens of Islamic countries in the world that have a common Islamic culture. In the same way, modern culture is spreading in different ways in the countries of the world, but Tajikistan is one in the world, and the responsibility for its culture and its presentation to the world lies on the shoulders of the leader and head of the country, the government and the people of Tajikistan.
Fortunately, Emomali Rahmon, in his policy and management of culture, protects the entire culture of the Aryans, Iranians, and Farsi speakers, in addition to the culture of the people of Tajikistan, called the culture of ancestors. The truth is that although Aryan culture and holidays are protected in Tajikistan, we do not see this in other Persian-speaking countries.
POSITION OF EMOMALI RAHMON IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RELIGION
Religiosity, how people use religion, and the management of religion in societies and countries are among the problems that governments and people face, especially in Islamic countries. Unfortunately, radical, extremist, and terrorist groups have taken hostage the common feelings of the people by abusing religion and deceiving people through religion. We can see an example in Afghanistan, how extremist and terrorist movements deceived and misled the youth and the general public by abusing religion until the previous government fell, and now, including the Taliban, dozens of extremist and terrorist movements are present in Afghanistan and use violence. They impose and apply their dominance, confusion, and nervousness on people. Unfortunately, these terrorist groups are trying to infiltrate the countries of Central Asia and other countries from the Afghanistan territory. The conscious and proud Tajik people must understand the situation in Afghanistan and realize that they cannot be deceived by the false slogans of abusers of religion.
Fortunately, Emomali Rahmon, with a correct and realistic understanding of modern and cultural politics, was also realistic and wise in managing religion in Tajik society and did not allow abusers to take religion hostage and deceive the Tajik people. We need to protect people from abusers of religion and extremist religious groups. If the leadership of the country does not protect the people from religious extremist groups and abusers of religion, the life of the people will be similar to the life of the people of Afghanistan. Religious abusers and religious extremist groups turn religion into a curse on people's lives and also damage religion and religiosity.
Against abusers of religion and extremist religious groups, it is important and necessary not only to protect people but also to protect religion, because if religion is not defended, they will turn it into a means and instrument to achieve their goals. Religion must be accessible to people without the abuse of individuals and groups and without extremist religious movements so that people can share their mystery and need with God. Fortunately, Emomali Rahmon was able to protect the people of Tajikistan from abusers of religion and religious extremist groups and also defended the faith of the people so that religion would not be abused by individuals and religious extremist groups.
The policy of the President of Tajikistan on issues of religion and religiosity of society at the regional level is unique and successful, and he managed to save the Tajik nation from religious extremism, and the Tajik nation has religious, national, and folk values, and also human and modern freedoms. The Tajik people must understand the leadership of Emomali Rahmon and his wise approach to religion. This wise management of religion and religiosity by the President of Tajikistan is in fact a blessing and happiness for the Tajik people.
