Chechen government orders closure of clothing stores for violating Islamic values
Chechen authorities are closing clothing shops over promotional videos on social media that «focus on the body rather than the clothes». They have set up a WhatsApp group to monitor advertising.
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Chechnya has closed several women's clothing shops for posting. Promotional videos on social media featuring women. The authorities say the images are indecent and contrary to the values of Islam. The models appear walking or turning, with their clothes serving as the background. The regime considers that this type of promotion “perverts the morals.” because it focuses on the woman and not on the clothing. This action has been justified by Ramzan Kadyrov's regime as a Defence of traditional values and Sharia.
According to the portal Islam News, the Chechen Muftiate has intervened directly. It has denounced that the videos “They don't show products, but bodies.”, and has warned that this type of advertising is “haram”. The government demands that the images be removed in order to reopen the establishments. According to the Chechen regime, this Violates Islamic morality and offends religious values.. According to the head of government's assistant, «These shops display bodies, not clothes. This is not commerce; it is immoral.”.
Islamic morality as official policy
Religious control marks every area of public life in Chechnya. Ramzan Kadyrov's regime enforces a strict version of Sharia law. This approach particularly affects women and their appearance.also the way the clothes are presented for sale. The closed shops are not an isolated case. The same government has warned other sectors. Also They have threatened beauty salons for displaying women without headscarves or for running adverts that do not conform to religious codes..
On 19 July a meeting was held with the affected traders, attended by the Mufti of Chechnya and the Minister of Information. The Mufti declared that «Any business that involves haram ceases to be blessed. This tarnishes not only trade but also the honour of the family and the community.«The minister stated that«Whoever does not follow these moral rules will have no place in our republic.«.
A WhatsApp group to control advertising
As a complementary measure, eThe government has imposed the creation of a WhatsApp group where traders must share any promotional content in advance before publishing it.. The group, which includes representatives from the administration and the muftiate, serves to filter visual messages according to the moral standards established by the religious authority. Only shops that sell conservative Islamic clothing, such as burqas, hijabs and abayas, have agreed to join..
The authorities have made it clear that any content that has not been reviewed may result in immediate sanctions, including the closure of the business. This measure is not temporary. The monitoring will continue indefinitely.
According to the portal Islamnews, , Only shops that sell conservative Islamic clothing, such as hijabs, abayas or burqas, have signed up.. The rest have been left out. Those who sell Western fashion or non-religious styles have been excluded or pressured not to take part.
Background and institutionalised repression
Moral repression is not new in Chechnya. In 2010, violent actions were recorded against women who were not wearing a headscarf, including attacks with paintball guns. These acts were not condemned by the government; on the contrary, they were justified as part of a campaign to «protect morality». Since then, social and religious pressure has intensified.
Female bodies have become the object of systematic censorship in the Islamic world. Now commerce is too. Advertising, Social media and even the selection of merchandise are subject to direct control. Any visual expression that deviates from the imposed Islamic codes may result in the immediate closure of the establishment.
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