Human rights activists have criticized Chechen authorities for their plan to harass girls without headscarves.

The Chechen authorities' decision to hold educational talks with girls without headscarves and their parents should be interpreted as psychological violence.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, Amir Sugaipov, an assistant to the head of Chechnya and also a "youth curator" in the republic, stated that "explanatory talks" will be held with girls who do not wear headscarves and with their parents.

The Chechen authorities' initiative was commented on to the Caucasian Knot by Saida Sirazhudinova, president of the Center for the Study of Global Contemporary and Regional Issues "Caucasus. World. Development," Svetlana Gannushkina, head of the Civic Assistance Committee (an organization included in the register of foreign agents), another human rights activist familiar with the realities of Chechnya, and Chechen political scientist Ruslan Kutayev.

The "explanatory work" announced by the authorities with girls without headscarves can be interpreted as administrative or psychological pressure, Saida Sirazhudinova pointed out.

The clothing has nothing to do with disturbing public order Security

"The forms in which the 'explanatory' work is carried out are psychological, and even more so, sometimes physical violence. Among other things, they snatch girls' phones and search them. Legally, they wouldn't have the right to coerce or wrest access to personal information. This is a violation of boundaries and an invasion of privacy. Moreover, clothing has nothing to do with violating public safety," she said.

According to her, the Chechen authorities intend to achieve complete control "everywhere and anywhere." "They want to establish a patriarchal order where the preservation of society is guaranteed by exerting pressure on women, harassing and suppressing them. Yes, there are women who express themselves even in the region. They are valued for their wisdom, knowledge, and intellect. But these are the women who are fortunate enough to have family support," said Saida Sirazhudinova.

In the long term, this policy will lead to disastrous consequences, she is certain. "The consequences will be negative. The greater the pressure, the greater the resistance. It's not yet visible, but it's there. Women already respect traditions and culture. That's how they were raised. But pressure creates resistance. We can't turn a blind eye to problems. They're normal and happen everywhere; no people or society is perfect. We need to listen to women. Right now, many people hide everything out of habit, keeping silent about everything. But then their patience wears thin. If they heard women and allowed them to speak out, they would avoid extreme forms of resistance, self-defense, and protest," the human rights activist pointed out.

No external structure with its own control can solve the problems.

In her opinion, an ideology that prioritizes tradition over laws is a challenge to federal laws. "Right now [the federal government] allows it. But central policy often changes. There are traditions that make a people unique. But these traditions shouldn't be linked to inequality and oppression. The world is changing. No one can prevent women from reading, watching, and listening. Traditional culture can only be preserved through personal example, support, and socialization. Let family and home become places of love, mutual respect, and support. No external structure with its control can solve problems. It will only drive them deeper and intensify them. Any actions associated with violence will have the opposite effect. How can we continue to educate people about headscarves if you can't enter any establishment without one? This isn't just a women's issue. Every day, more than 20 people from the region illegally cross European borders. And not just women. Therefore, a different policy is needed. "Attract and retain the population," Sirazhudinova emphasized.

When security forces or administration representatives come to you for a "conversation," it is no longer voluntary education.

The legal line between "explanatory work" and administrative or psychological pressure is blurred, agreed Svetlana Gannushkina.

"An explanation is given at the request of the recipient. Pressure is initiated by the one wielding power and authority. Such "explanations" cannot help but be perceived as a threat. When security forces or administration representatives come to you for a "conversation," it is no longer voluntary education, but pressure using state resources. A conversation becomes pressure when there is a threat of consequences for refusing to comply. Everyone knows there could be problems with employment, persecution of relatives, and direct threats to safety. "And when such concerns arise, conversations cease to be just conversations," she explained.

If "conversations" with parents take the form of pressure or threats, this is already a violation of the law, the human rights activist is certain.

Control over women becomes a way to demonstrate power

"Imposing a certain style of clothing and linking it to morality is unacceptable and, of course, a form of violence. This is a classic manifestation of patriarchy. The female body is traditionally viewed as a symbol of family and community honor, so control over women becomes a way to demonstrate power and traditional values through appeals to Islam and adat. Meanwhile, male behavior remains outside such strict control," the human rights activist said.

Such a policy leads to dangerous consequences, she emphasized. "This policy is already resulting in the creation of a system of subordination and intrusion into the private lives of citizens in all its aspects. Psychologically, this creates trauma for women, who live in constant fear of condemnation and punishment for their appearance. And it is difficult to live with such psychological pressure," she noted.

Sugaipov has been tasked with achieving ideological control over young people in the republic and beyond, suggested a human rights activist familiar with the realities of Chechnya, but who asked not to publish his name.

He is creating alternative power structures that duplicate federal ones, but report directly to the head of the republic.

"Sugaipov is essentially creating an alternative system for ideological control over young people. And no federal laws or institutions regulate his activities. And all this effectively allows him to operate outside the law under the guise of public work. This is part of Kadyrov's strategy. He is creating alternative power structures that duplicate federal ones, but report directly to the head of the republic. Youth policy in Chechnya is turning into a tool for ideological indoctrination and ensuring loyalty to the regime. But if you look closely, you can see that the laws on youth development are based on freedom and "self-realization. And what the Chechen authorities are doing is restricting all kinds of freedoms," he said.

Many people think that loose hair is bad

Chechen society is conservative in nature, and the majority supports Sugaipov's policy, says Ruslan Kutayev. "The majority is not against this policy because many people think that loose hair is bad. And they [the authorities] are using this fact to advance their policies. Their goal is to make this approach widespread. "If 70 percent of people think so now, then they want it to be closer to a 100 percent result," he said.

According to him, Sugaipov's personality as the one implementing the idea is not so important here. "What's more important is that Kadyrov wants it this way, and he [Sugaipov] is fulfilling his [Kadyrov's] wishes in this regard. And it doesn't matter who exactly is implementing this policy," the political scientist noted.

Sugaipov's statement was commented on today by a reader of the "Caucasian Knot" with the nickname jerald. "That is, they will be 'talking' not only with the girls, but also with their parents. So to speak, the 'principle of collective responsibility,' just in a different package, 'solely for their benefit.'" Although, one must give credit to the Chechen authorities. In 2010, they addressed the issue of girls wearing headscarves much more radically. Some "unknown individuals" simply shot at girls without headscarves on the streets of Grozny with paintball guns and paintballs. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov welcomed the attackers, saying he didn't know who did it but fully supported the method. That was a kind of "stick," now they've used the "carrot." Like, "dear sisters," wear headscarves, or at least strips of cloth on your heads "for your own good," he wrote in his comment.

As a reminder, in the summer, four women's clothing stores were closed in Grozny at the request of the authorities, after their advertising on social media was deemed inappropriate. Aide to the head of Chechnya, Amir Sugaipov, called on store owners not to use photos without headdresses and from the back in their advertising, promising retaliatory measures if they do. Some social media users approved of the closure of the stores for the advertising not conforming to the Chechen authorities' ideas about morality, while others considered This is excessive.

The campaign against "inappropriate advertising" of women's clothing has made retail unprofitable, entrepreneurs and industry workers told the "Caucasian Knot."