Turkmenistan: Mourning made compulsory for President"s father

As reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on 29 May 2021, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov's father died at the age of 88 on 18 April 2021. Senior male Turkmen officials and managers of major private companies were immediately ordered to shave their heads and wear a traditional Turkmen skullcap as a sign of mourning, and women working in state agencies were required to wear black shawls. The order is set to last for 40 days. World Watch Research analyst Rolf Zeegers comments: "Although the death of anyone"s father is a sad event, the mourning for the President"s father is out of all proportion, due to the reigning leadership cult. The President showed his respect by not attending the National Horse Day celebrations and by travelling in a black car - despite having previously ordered that only white cars were to be used for driving the President. It all goes to show how life in the country is completely controlled by the President"s wishes. This is the background situation for the small Christian community, too. There is simply no freedom at all."