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| Tajiks vote in referendum on banning religious parties | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The people of mainly Muslim Tajikistan are voting on a ban on religion-based parties, in a poll likely to strengthen the president's power. | |
| Emomali Rakhmon has ruled the ex-Soviet Central Asian republic since 1992, surviving a civil war which ended in a deal with the Islamist opposition. | Emomali Rakhmon has ruled the ex-Soviet Central Asian republic since 1992, surviving a civil war which ended in a deal with the Islamist opposition. |
| Moves to ban the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party began last year. | Moves to ban the opposition Islamic Renaissance Party began last year. |
| Sunday's referendum also asks voters to lift limits on the number of terms a president can serve in office. | Sunday's referendum also asks voters to lift limits on the number of terms a president can serve in office. |
| It further proposes lowering the age limit for running for president from 35 to 30 - a move that would theoretically allow Mr Rakhmon's son Rustam, who is 29, to run for office in 2020. | It further proposes lowering the age limit for running for president from 35 to 30 - a move that would theoretically allow Mr Rakhmon's son Rustam, who is 29, to run for office in 2020. |
| The three points are contained in a parliamentary bill on amendments to the constitution. | The three points are contained in a parliamentary bill on amendments to the constitution. |
| The single question on the ballot form is "Do you support the amendments and additions to the constitution of the country?" | The single question on the ballot form is "Do you support the amendments and additions to the constitution of the country?" |
| Tajikistan is one of the poorest countries in the region and relies heavily on Russia, with remittances from citizens working abroad - mainly in Russia - making up half of the country's GDP. | Tajikistan is one of the poorest countries in the region and relies heavily on Russia, with remittances from citizens working abroad - mainly in Russia - making up half of the country's GDP. |
| Since the power-sharing agreement that ended the bloody civil war in 1997, Islamists have been gradually pushed out of the government. | Since the power-sharing agreement that ended the bloody civil war in 1997, Islamists have been gradually pushed out of the government. |
| Fears have also grown that the Afghan conflict could spill across Tajikistan's border. | Fears have also grown that the Afghan conflict could spill across Tajikistan's border. |
| Rakhmon's hold on power: Abdujalil Abdurasulov, BBC News | Rakhmon's hold on power: Abdujalil Abdurasulov, BBC News |
| Emomali Rakhmon has been in power since 1992, and has managed to increase his power by cracking down on political dissent and freedom of expression. | Emomali Rakhmon has been in power since 1992, and has managed to increase his power by cracking down on political dissent and freedom of expression. |
| Mr Rakhmon has substantial public support - and his rather serious face can be seen on posters across Tajikistan. | Mr Rakhmon has substantial public support - and his rather serious face can be seen on posters across Tajikistan. |
| People sing his praises and dedicate poems to him. And huge crowds turn up to presidential rallies - although attendance is obligatory for state employees. | People sing his praises and dedicate poems to him. And huge crowds turn up to presidential rallies - although attendance is obligatory for state employees. |
| Mr Rakhmon's supporters are grateful the civil war of the 1990s is over - but life is not easy for most Tajiks. | Mr Rakhmon's supporters are grateful the civil war of the 1990s is over - but life is not easy for most Tajiks. |
| Read more | Read more |