We take you now to Tajikistan, where the phrase ‘Fear the Beard’ is taken quite literally. Parviz Tursunov, a prominent player for pro soccer club Khayr Vahdat, has been prevented by police from playing in the first two games of the season because he wears a beard, says his coach. Tokhir Muminov said there are problems with the police over Tursunov’s appearance.
However, the Interior Ministry denies issuing any order to prevent bearded footballers from playing and said any officers caught intimidating citizens would be punished.
“While he settles this issue with his beard, his absence is having a negative effect on the team’s performance,” Muminov said.
Beards are not outlawed in Tajikistan, but the government “discourages” anyone younger than 50 from wearing one. The ministry wants to stamp out religious extremism, claiming that long beards are worn mainly by followers of Salafism, which was banned by the Supreme Court in 2009. There have been several reports of people with beards being detained by police.
A society ruled by Floyd the Barber?!
Of course, attempting to end one kind of extremism by imposing another seems rather foolish, but then, I’m no expert on soccer, or countries with “stan” in their name.
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Tajik police ban coach from picking bearded player [KHOU]
