When single Turkmen women learned that they would now have to wear yellow headscarves at work in Ashgabat, they realized that their bosses had no more information and simply said, "The order came from above" in response to their questions. This new directive, issued in mid-Esfand, also requires married women to wear yellow clothing at work. Those who do not comply with this directive have been warned that they may be dismissed.
The new directive, issued in mid-Esfand, also requires married women to wear yellow clothing at work. Those who do not comply with this directive have been warned that they may be dismissed.
A street in Ashgabat that leads to the central train station.
The dress and "aesthetic" regulations in Turkmenistan are the latest examples of an expanding list of mandatory rules that, although issued without any legal basis, can have serious consequences for noncompliance. Cars in Turkmenistan, especially in Ashgabat, the capital, must be white or light-colored, air conditioning units must be removed from the exterior of buildings, and women are required to wear only traditional clothing. Young men must also shave their faces completely; this effectively means a ban on beards, a restriction that is also enforced in some other Central Asian countries. Slavomir Horak, a Central Asia specialist at Charles University in Prague, emphasized in an interview with Radio Free Europe that these "regulations" have no legal backing. "These matters are usually issued based on a comment, note, or recommendation from the president or one of his family members."
Cars in Turkmenistan, especially in Ashgabat, the capital, must be white or light-colored, air conditioning units must be removed from the exterior of buildings, and women are required to wear only traditional clothing. Young men must also shave their faces completely; this effectively means a ban on beards, a restriction that is also enforced in some other Central Asian countries.
Slavomir Horak, a Central Asia specialist at Charles University in Prague, emphasized in an interview with Radio Free Europe that these "regulations" have no legal backing. "These matters are usually issued based on a comment, note, or recommendation from the president or one of his family members."
Sardar Berdymukhamedov, the President of Turkmenistan.
Turkmenistan has been under the leadership of Sardar Berdymukhamedov as president for three years. On election day, this young politician arrived at the polling station in a car with the license plate 7297. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that he had won with 72.97% of the votes. This 43-year-old is the son of former president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who held power from 2006 to 2022, and many believe he is still the main decision-maker in the country.
Satellite dishes collected from one of the suburbs of Ashgabat.
According to Slavomir Horak in an interview with Radio Free Europe, the ban on the use of satellite dishes was effectively enforced after Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov claimed that satellite dishes "distorted the city's appearance." According to him, this comment was enough for the police to consider it an order and take action to collect the dishes.
Turkmen women at a bus station in Ashgabat, Farvardin 1397.
The directive regarding the yellow headscarf, which follows several other directives related to women's appearance, has faced significant reactions in private circles. A Turkmen woman, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Radio Free Europe’s Turkmen service, "When will this story end? How long will the humiliation of women's identity and character continue?" Female government employees had previously been prohibited from wearing makeup, tight clothing, and dyeing their hair bright and blonde colors, among many other restrictions. The Turkmen Women's Union did not respond to Radio Free Europe’s requests for comments on the latest dress regulations for women.
A Turkmen woman, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Radio Free Europe’s Turkmen service, "When will this story end? How long will the humiliation of women's identity and character continue?" Female government employees had previously been prohibited from wearing makeup, tight clothing, and dyeing their hair bright and blonde colors, among many other restrictions.
The Turkmen Women's Union did not respond to Radio Free Europe’s requests for comments on the latest dress regulations for women.
A woman wearing a traditional headscarf in "Ko Ata" near Ashgabat, Mehr 1394.
According to Slavomir Horak, Turkmenistan's "aesthetic" directives are partly a legacy of the country's ties with the Soviet Union and partly stem from the interests of Saparmurat Niyazov, the first president of Turkmenistan, who died in 2006. However, this Central Asia specialist emphasizes that the restrictions and directives have peaked during the rule of the Berdymukhamedovs. It is unclear why only specific colors have been announced for women, and only speculations exist. Some say the choice of these colors stems from the preferences of Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's wife and sisters for the color yellow.
It is unclear why only specific colors have been announced for women, and only speculations exist. Some say the choice of these colors stems from the preferences of Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's wife and sisters for the color yellow.
A village in Turkmenistan, Tir 1391.
According to observers, since Sardar Berdymukhamedov came to power three years ago, Turkmenistan has witnessed minor but positive changes, including efforts to improve the working conditions of laborers in the cotton and textile industry, as well as the publication of census statistical information. However, this country is still considered one of the most corrupt and dictatorial in the world, where widespread poverty is evident outside major urban and coastal areas. Although access to public information is not easy, the average income of each citizen in this resource-rich country is less than two and a half dollars a day; less than a quarter of the average income in neighboring Kazakhstan.
However, this country is still considered one of the most corrupt and dictatorial in the world, where widespread poverty is evident outside major urban and coastal areas.
Although access to public information is not easy, the average income of each citizen in this resource-rich country is less than two and a half dollars a day; less than a quarter of the average income in neighboring Kazakhstan.