Commuting to School by Private Car Puts University Students at Risk of Suspension in This Country

Tajikistan in Central Asia Bans Students from Commuting by Private Car

"Traffic Accident Risks, Undermining Student Equality Cited"

Seen as a Tool of Social Control by the Rahmon Regime

Reports have emerged that seven university students in Tajikistan, Central Asia, are facing possible suspension after being caught by authorities for commuting to school in their private vehicles.

According to Yonhap News on May 11, citing the Times of Central Asia (TCA), seven students from four universities in the capital city of Dushanbe, including Tajik National University, were recently found to have commuted to school by private car during a crackdown near their campuses.

Police and university officials in Dushanbe carried out the crackdown based on a regulation implemented by the Ministry of Education in 2017. This regulation prohibits all students, including university students, from commuting to school by private car, and violators can face suspension for up to three years. The police reported the results of the crackdown to both the Ministry of Education and the respective universities, and the level of punishment for the students is expected to be decided soon. On the same day, the police issued a statement pointing out that "some students are cleverly violating the regulations in order to show off."

The authorities cite two main reasons for the ban on commuting to school by private car: the safety concern of increased traffic accident risks among young drivers, and the concern that luxury vehicles serve as a symbol of wealth and social status, undermining the principle of equality among students. Previously, there was a case in Dushanbe where a second-year student at Tajik National University was caught commuting to school in a Range Rover. The details of the punishment were not released.

This crackdown has sparked controversy locally. According to Yonhap News, a similar case last September was widely shared on social networking services (SNS), prompting strong backlash. At the time, local media and online users criticized the Ministry of Education for "focusing only on misguided crackdowns while ignoring urgent issues such as overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages."

The ban on commuting to school by private car is also seen as part of the regime's long-standing, extensive social control. President Emomali Rahmon first banned university students from using mobile phones, holding extravagant parties, and commuting to school by private car in 2007. That same year, the Ministry of Education also prohibited the wearing of hijabs and miniskirts on campus. Furthermore, in June 2024, a law was enacted banning clothing deemed "incompatible with national culture." Human rights organizations have criticized these measures as "practical means of social control under the pretext of cultural preservation."

Tajikistan, a mountainous country with a population of about 10 million, remains one of the poorest countries in Central Asia despite an expected economic growth rate of 8.4% last year. Remittances from citizens working abroad account for about 28% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

President Rahmon has ruled Tajikistan for more than 30 years since 1994. It has been reported that major opposition parties have been designated as terrorist organizations and are either banned or persecuted in the country.