Global Voices » Central Asia & Caucasus

Kyrgyzstan Celebrates, Debates Victory Day

Bermet Zhumakadyr kyzy — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:18:00 +0000

Just over 68 years ago on May 9, 1945, Nazi Germany capitulated, marking the end of World War II. Victory Day on May 9 is a national holiday celebrated vibrantly in many former Soviet countries, including Kyrgyzstan. This year the celebration and commemoration of the day also generated a lot of online activity, with Kyrgyzstani Internet users registering frustration that the country's “true heroes” were remembered only once a year, and that the holiday has now turned into an excuse to get drunk.

Parades on the main square, speeches of thanks, receptions, concerts and fireworks are broadcast on national television every May 9, honoring the people that gave their lives in the fight against fascism. Victory Day was not always celebrated with such pomp, however. In fact, May 9 parades and festivities were not institutionalized across the Union until 1965, when Leonid Brezhnev gave the order to mark the 20th anniversary of the end of the war.

As of 1993 it has been estimated that over 26 million Soviet citizens perished during the struggle subsequently referred to as the Great Patriotic War. While the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic was a long way from any front, both Kyrgyz and Kazakh soldiers played a key role during the battle for Moscow, as part of the famous 8th Guards Panfilov division, who have gone down in Soviet folklore as the Panfilovtsi.

Gratitude

Many netizens expressed their gratitude to those who fought against Nazism and lauded their heroism. On a local news site, Vecherni Bishkek, Я помню я горжусь (I remember I take pride) wrote [ru]:

Спасибо деду за Победу! Слава Ветеранам! [...]

Thanks for the victory elder! Bless the veterans!

Alankoenaliev expressed his gratitude [ru] on Instagram:

Спасибо за победу! С праздником!

Thank you for the victory! Happy holiday!

Sanjar Abakirov,meanwhile, thanked [ru] the heroes on a special public Facebook page set up to commemorate the day:

Вечная память героям, Вечная и безграничная благодарность ветеранам.

Eternal remembrance of the heroes, eternal and limitless gratitude to the veterans

People at the monument to the fallen soldier. (Image from kloop.kg,used with permission)

‘The Real Heroes’

But the remembrance was not without politicization. On April 2010, unrest erupted in Kyrgyzstan, resulting in the overthrow of then-president Kurmanbek Bakiyev, and the death of over eighty people. Families of the dead were given $20,000 each and in many cases, free flats. Pensioners in the republic, including those that fought in the war, collect an average monthly pension of just over $100. The elevation of participants in the April 2010 overthrow to ‘hero’ status was noted bitterly by many netizens on May 9.

Я помню я горжусь wrote [ru]:

[…] P.S почему называют героями Апрельской революции и выдают им квартиры а ветеранов вспоминают только 9 МАЯ

By the way, why do they call the April revolutionaries heroes and give them flats while they only remember veterans on May 9?

A satire blog “Fairy Tales from Heavenly Beshbarmakia” on the local news outlet Akipress penned an allegorical post in time for the celebrations. The post describes [ru] battles between egocentric politicians, now dead and represented by personal monuments. [Note: Beshbarmakia is a fictional name the blog uses for Kyrgyzstan. Beshbarmak, meaning "five fingers" is a traditional Kyrgyz noodle dish].

Про каждого, кто хоть что-нибудь из себя мнил в Бешбармаикии, были в этой комнате фигуры и статуи. Ночью они оживали и перепирались между собой — кто из них круче и кого больше должна ценить Бешбармакия. Дело обычно доходило до оскорблений, драк и митингов. Склока была нескончаемой.

Anyone who had ever thought anything of themselves in Beshbamrmakia had statues of themselves in that room. At night the statues would argue between themselves – who among them was the coolest and whom had Beshbarmakia appreciated the most. Things usually led to insults, fights, and interminable political rallies.

The post ends [ru] with a description of the modest monument to the Unknown Soldier:

И только один памятник, далеко в углу, всегда молчал и никогда не участвовал ни в склоке, ни в общем хороводе самомнений. Остальные по сравнению с этой фигурой были просто пластиковыми пупсиками. То был памятник Неизвестному солдату.

And only one statue, far away in a corner, was always silent and never participated in the squabbles and the posturing. The rest, by comparison with that statue, were just sad, plastic dolls. That was the memorial to the Unknown Soldier.

Аленка commented [ru] on the allegorical post:

Спасибо нашим ветеранам низкий поклон им. Но просто бесит, что им дарят конфеты, макароны и 1000 сом, позорище такое.А апрельским революционерам квартиры, деньги и т.д.

Thank you, our veterans, we bow to them. But it really irritates me that [the state] gives them sweets, macaroni and 1,000 som – what a disgrace. And the April revolutionaries get given flats, money, etc

Songs are sung during May 9 celebrations. (Image from kloop.kg, used with permission)

There is no Tomorrow to Pay Respects

While politicians make promises to improve the lives of the veterans in the near future, Internet users insist that the veterans should be treated as heroes every day. Under an article on a popular Russian language news outlet, Lika wrote [ru]:

Надо ветеранам ежемесячно помогать финансово, а не по праздникам только

We should be helping the veterans financially every month, not only on holidays

Another comment reads [ru]:

Через 2 года возможно уже не кому будет помогать((( Нужно делать сейчас

It is possible that in 2 years there will already be no-one to help ((( We need to [help] now

Every year the veterans get fewer. (Image from kloop.kg, used with permission)

Four Days of Drinking?

Many of the countries celebrating Victory Day announced a four-day long holiday starting from May 9. For some, this was interpreted as a 96 hour window to get pie-eyed. While some netizens considered alcohol a vital part of the celebration, others were critical of the mass inebriation.

Bektour Iskender commented [ru] on Kloop.kg's Facebook plug-in:

Страшно представить, в какой дикий четырёхдневный запой уйдут некоторые кыргызстанцы в связи с предстоящими длиннющими выходными.

Horrific to think in what wild manner some Kyrgyzstanis will celebrate this upcoming extension of the holiday.

By the morning of May 9, Natalya Glazirina had already found out. She twitted [ru]:

@natalinatal1996: сейчас гуляла,и с болкона какой-то мужик пел песню “день победы”.пьяный-жуть)праздник ЧЁ)

I took a walk and saw that from his balcony some completely drunk man was singing the song “Victory Day”. Holiday, WHAT)

But veterans aren't beyond a bit of a drink and knees up either. Here they toast each other with plastic cups of “Front '50″, a vodka specially made for the celebration of Victory Day. (Image from kloop.kg, used with permission)

Wikipedia to Appear in Shughni

Chris Rickleton — Sun, 12 May 2013 03:44:59 +0000

“Good news Pamiris,” writes [ru] Bektour Iskender, President of Kloop Media, a Kyrgyz news portal and blogging platform. “Wikipedia has provided permission to begin a version of the site in Shughni.” Shughni is one of the main languages spoken in Gorno Badakhshan province (GBAO), a remote, eastern part of Tajikistan dominated by the Pamir Mountains. Iskender helped local internet users file the request to create a Shughni section of Wikipedia following a new media training session in Khorog, the province's administrative capital, over two years ago. “Now begins the small matter of realizing [Wikipedia in Shughni]. But I can't help there, since I don't know a word of the language,” he says.

(more…)

VIDEO: Turkmenistan's Pop Music Makes Love, Not Politics

Anna Fergana — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:19:46 +0000

In Turkmenistan, pop musicians tread a difficult path between carving out a distinctive image for themselves and ensuring they don't fall foul of the state.

Authorities in Ashkabad have never tried hard to hide their preference for a style Radio Free Europe terms “ethno-pop” over other musical genres. But with a surplus of performers in this oversubscribed category, artists have started to draw on foreign influences, both to help them stand out at home and to give them a chance to enter more lucrative markets in Russia and Turkey.

Nevertheless, whether in Turkmen, Russian, Turkish or less usually, English, the most popular topic for Turkmen artists to address is undoubtedly love, with few straying from this tried and tested formula.

The clip below is a traditional song revamped by Dovran Tokgaev, “Suw Almaga Gelmezmi?” (“Will She Come to Get Water?”). The production is fairly poor quality but the clip clearly portrays a shy, old-fashioned courtship between a girl in national dress and a horse-riding man who later serves his country in the army before coming back to claim her. The song was released over a decade ago:

Tokgaev is known for his peerless vocals. One fan, Shirin comments [tkm] under the clip:

DOvran in gowy goryan aydymchym! Sesine saglik!

Dovran is my favorite singer! Let his voice be healthy!

When not singing about love, Tokgaev's songs tend to be patriotic in tone, such as “Ashkabad [Turkmen capital] – The Best City in the World” [ru]. As such, he presents no dilemmas for the Turkmen government.

But Tokgaev is no longer top of the Turkmen pops, and faces challenges from the likes of Tach, who makes Turkmen teens go crazy. The video clip of Yar, one of Tach's songs, demonstrates [Tkm] the improvement in the quality of music videos over the years, and highlights Tach's slightly more modern approach to matters of the heart.

Yet Tach is not a model Turkmen citizen, having studied abroad, and often sings in English. His followers point out that he shares similarities with Turkish solo artists as well.

One of his fans, eberdiyeva uses [Tkm] a strong Turkmen word to sum up her feelings for the artist:

Bet

Cool

Another user,TurkmenPlanner, points out [Tkm] that Tach is not a professional singer and makes videos at home on his laptop. This situation is not uncommon in Turkmenistan, where making music profitable is a tall order.

Jivoyom eshtdik, vrode by erbet dyal.

Vsyo je hochu zametit chto dlya cheloveka kotoriy schitaet eto delo svoim “hobby” gde on je …pishit muzyku, slova, snimaet klip i vsyo eto obrabatyvaet bez specialnoy tehniki i ludey i lish tolko na svoyom nedorogom laptope v svobodnoe vremya. Tach, iz 10 vse 10.

I've seen him live, he is pretty good.

It is noteworthy that this person considers music his “hobby” and writes music, texts, and makes clips on his laptop during his free time. Tach deserves 10 out of 10.

One undermining feature of the Turkmen pop world is poor copyright laws. Singers are often accused of stealing music or translating texts. Some commentators say this applies to Tach as well.

Muratkabaev asked [ru]:

normal passan poyot. klip toje horosho sinyali..pocemu muzik ne ego..?

The guy is cool. Clip is well shot as well…but why is the music not his own..?

These comments were echoed by other watchers of Yar, but TheAynulka disagreed [Tkm] with their criticism:

Poslushay yego svoi proizvedenie; Green Eyes, Girl From Lyon, With a Flower, Let it Burn. Jal chto on sochenyaet na angliyskom, i malo kto slushaet.

Listen, he has his own songs; Green Eyes, Girl From Lyon, With a Flower, Let it Burn. It is pity that he writes in English and not many people have heard of this.

Tach is not the only singer to generate mixed press. Ma-Ro, a Turkmen rapper, is another interesting character, and one who has drawn the wrong type of attention from Turkmen authorities. At the beginning of 2011, Ma-Ro was sentenced to two years imprisonment after an initial 15 day detention. At the time, Eurasianet.org's Sifting the Karakum blog wrote, citing the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights [ru]:

Maksat (Ma-Ro) Karakbayev and Murad Ovezov were summoned to the Interior Ministry on January 28, and sentenced to 15 days of jail for giving an interview to a Turkish TV channel, TMB.

Some speculate that the real reason for Ma-Ro's arrest was the song “Sen Oyan” (“Wake Up!”) that the government perceived as a call for people to resist the state. As Radio Free Europe notes, Turkmen rap singers have been known to miss a beat when it comes to praising their country's Golden Age, choosing instead to focus on the difficult nature of everyday life in the isolated state. But how dangerous were Ma-Ro's lyrics?:

Bu aýdym, biziň dostlarymyz üçin, ýe, ýe, ýe / Ýyldyzlar dogandan soň güneş batýar /Sagatlar, günler, ýyllar ötýär / Çalyş sen dünýäde yz goýmaga / Wagt gelse, goýmazlar dolanmaga / Ine köp ýatma ukudan oýan / Hany bol oýlanda özüňe daýan / Aňsat däldir durmuş meni diňle / Egerde bolsa çyn dost sende / Ýeňersiň kynçylygy her demde / Her günde, her ýerde, köseneňde / Durmuşda arkadag bolsa saňa / Başararsyň ýetmäge arzuwlaryňa

This song is for our friends, yeah , yeah, yeah / The sun sets and stars appear / Hours, days and years pass / You should try to make something remarkable in this world / Because time doesn't wait and there is no coming back / Don't sleep for too long, wake up / And trust only yourself / Life is not easy, so listen to me if you are real, friend / You will cope with all troubles with every breath you take / Every day and everywhere when you feel sad / Let help come to your life / And you can reach your dreams

Fortunately, Ma-Ro was granted amnesty on the Day of the Turkmen Flag in February 2013, having served two years of a five year term, and will now continue advancing Turkmen hip-hop. Singer-government relations have long been a source of discussion for Turkmen netizens. Back in 2011, on the popular platform Ertir, Athena commented on his arrest [Tkm]:

ay indi aydymchylaram ovrenishdi oydyan gadaganchylyga. 3-4 ay yaly yitip gidip prezident hakda bir aydym chykaryp yzyna geliberyaler

Now even singers are used to limitations/prohibitions. They are in jail for 3-4 months and then they only need to sing one song about the president and they are back again.

Not all of Ma-Ro's songs have a serious political message. In fact, plenty of them are about love and his homeland, themes that meet [ru] with strong government approval. Authorities will no doubt be hoping “Sen Oyan” was a blip.

Sohbet Kasymow (right) has amassed popularity in Turkmenistan's pop scene over the last couple of years. Screen capture taken from his video Gelmedin (2012), uploaded by YouTube user Shatlyk Sopyyew.

The rising star of Turkmen pop, meanwhile, is Sohbet Kasymow. Kasymow is often likened to a younger Dovran Tokgaev, and his cheeky, fresh, student style has pushed him to the very apex of the domestic music scene. The clip below is his hit song “Sőỳgi”, which translates as… “Love”:

Avoid Mycetism, Mushroom Pickers!

Chris Rickleton — Tue, 07 May 2013 04:09:56 +0000

Postage stamps featuring some of Kyrgyzstan's wild mushrooms – edible and non-edible. Images taken from ianbek.kg, used with permission.

“Never eat overripe, clammy, flabby, wormy or spoiled mushrooms,” writes Ian Claytor, translating advice from Kyrgyzstan's Department for Disease Prevention and Expertise in his blog, Postcard from Bishkek. With the mushroom picking season underway in the former Soviet state, the Ministry of Health have come up [ru] with guidelines to help pickers enjoy the pastime safely.

Stop Somonizing Tajikistan!

Mahina Shodizoda — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:49:43 +0000

As authorities in Tajikistan continue their rush to replace Soviet-era Lenin statues with ones of national icon Ismail Somoni, blogger Tomiris provides [ru] a powerful argument against monument monoculture:

It is a pity that instead of the ‘Leninization’ of the monument space we now have its ‘Somonization'. Every town erects a Somoni statue. How much more can we take? Why do we need so many identical monuments? Somoni might have been a heroic figure (which is impossible to ascertain now because the country's history is excessively ideological and politicized), but we should not turn him into a new Lenin, a ‘father’ or ‘grandfather’ of the nation.

‘Uzbek Princess’ in Social Media

Alexander Sodiqov — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:29:13 +0000

Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the infamous President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, is very different from the children of the leaders of other countries in Central Asia. A Harvard graduate, she has served as Uzbekistan's ambassador to UN in Geneva. She has also launched a pop singing career, a fashion line, a perfume, and a charity. Karimova is also very active in social media, and her provocative Twitter posts and photos shared on Instagram often raise eyebrows among the mostly conservative audiences in Uzbekistan and other countries in the region. Blogger Ayana Seidimbek presents [ru, en] a collection of the most controversial posts and images the ‘Uzbek princess’ has shared in social media.

From Russia with No Love .. for Central Asia

Tohir Pallaev — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:46:33 +0000

Despite being the major destination for Central Asian migrant workers, Russia is famous for regular intolerance towards ‘non-Russians’ residing within its borders. Hate crimes based on race and ethnicity are not rare in the multinational federation, and migrants from Central Asia and the Caucasus are the usual victims [ru] of racist sentiment. Aware of deepening anti-migrant feelings, many of Moscow's politicians look to boost their capital among voters by promoting right-wing policies. But there is always one politician that goes a step further than the rest.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of Russia's Liberal Democratic Party, is a combustible MP famous for making statements that are neither liberal nor democratic. Long-accustomed to playing the fool in domestic politics, Zhirinovsky's April performances seemed designed to send the entire Central Asian region into non-comic uproar.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, image from the LDPR's website, used with permission.

His assault on the peoples of the area began with a proposal in the Russian parliament to relieve [ru] the Kyrgyz Republic of the Issyk-Kul, a picturesque lake ringed by the awesome Tien Shan range, in order to pay off the large debt the former Soviet republic owes Moscow.The following week he was at it again, ranting [ru] at Central Asian migrants on a political talk show.

While Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs laughed off [ru] the suggested lake-for-debt deal, a number of Kyrgyz internet users failed to see the funny side of the suggestion.

Under a YouTube video of Zhirinovsky's parliamentary speech, bekturel commented [ru] :

Иссык – Куль он захотел. Ни одной кыргызской лужи не получите! Долг мы вернем, только не водой, и не землей, а бумажками.

So he wants Issyk-Kul. You will not get a single Kyrgyz puddle! We will pay off our debts, not with water or land, but with [paper money].

‘They are like slaves…’

Russia's parliament ignored the proposal of the ‘showman of Russian politics‘ and ratified a write-off of the $500 million Kyrgyz debt without confiscating any national treasures. But Zhirinovsky did not stop at that and, a few days later, made another colorful performance [ru] at a political talk show on Rossiya, a state-owned television channel. During the show, Zhirinovsky spoke of the need to introduce visa requirements for nationals from Central Asian states, who currently do not need visas to travel to Russia. He also indulged [ru] in expressive descriptions of Central Asian labor migrants:

Им не надо жилья, страховок. Oни как рабы крепостные, спят в подвалах, едят любую гадость.

They don't need accommodation or insurance. They are like slaves or serfs, sleeping in basements and eating any filth.

Banner of Zhirinovsky-led LDPR, reading “LDPR for Ethnic Russians!” Image by Ilya Radnets, used with permission.

The majority of people commenting under the YouTube video of the debate agreed. A user under the nickname ‘nekto1rublik' wrote [ru]:

давно пора уже ввести самый жесткий режим для их въезда вы посмотрите на улицы наших городов скоро на нас уже будут смотреть как будто мы не у себя дома кругом одна чернота сколько можно то уже….а те которые уже приехали нужно в вагоны и желательно грузовые и в Таджикистан!!!!!!

It is high time to introduce the strictest regime for the entry [of migrants from Central Aisa]. Look at the streets in our cities. Soon we will be looked at as if we are not at home, there is blackness everywhere. How much more can we take?… Those who have already arrived should be put on trains, preferably on cargo carriages, and sent to Tajikistan!!!

The comment voted most popular came [ru] from a user ‘CSKA Ultra', whose name refers to the group of right-wing football hooligans supporting the football team CSKA Moscow:

ЗА визовый режим с чуркостанами.

I am for a visa regime with Churkostans ['Churki' is derogatory slang for Central Asians].

Later during the same debate, Zhirinovsky argued that the Taliban might “trample on Tajikistan” and ”hang [Tajik President Emomali Rahmon] in the center of Dushanbe”. This statement provoked mixed reactions, earning the politician some respite from Tajik internet users who oppose their country's regime. But it led the Tajik parliament to register a complaint [ru] with the Russian ambassador.

‘You all have 15 children…’

Zhirinovsky concluded [ru] one of his anti-Central Asia rants during the talk show with some damning stereotypes:

Все бывшие советские республики живут лучше нас. То есть Россия через 20 лет снова всех кормит. Они все откормленные, все одетые и едут сюда погулять, бандитизмом заниматься, понасиловать. Естественно там у них работы не хватает, но эта причина ваша, это ваша релишия, у вас по 15 детей. Если у вас как у русских будет один ребёнок, вы вообще не будете думать о России. Пускай все Таджикские семьи имеют два ребёнка в семье и проблемы никакой у вас не будет! Тоже самое узбекистан и весь исламский мир

All post-Soviet countries live better than us. Twenty years [after the break-up of the Soviet Union], Russia feeds everyone again. They are all well-fed and well-dressed, and they come here to have a good time, to do banditry, and to rape. Of course they don't have enough jobs at home; but that is your fault, [the fault of] your religion. You all have 15 children. If you had only one child, like Russians, you would not even think about Russia. Let all Tajik families have only two children and you will not have any problems! The same [concerns] Uzbekistan and the whole Islamic world!

During his long political career, Zhirinovsky has earned the reputation of an eccentric, populist, and nationalist politician. Born in Kazakhstan, the son of a Jewish lawyer, he still has some close friends in Central Asia and remains something of a contradiction in terms. Only 6 percent of Russia's electorate voted for him in the 2012 presidential vote that secured Vladimir Putin's re-election as head of state.

Given these discrepancies, it has often been suggested that Zhirinovsky is a kind of diversion for Putin's United Russia party: a way of soaking up nationalist votes without offering a credible alternative to the ruling elite. That refrain was echoed [ru] by MrFury1984 under a YouTube video of Zhirinovsky on another television show, where he was asked to change his profession:

Да жирик не хочет быть у руля ))) это много ответственности , он часть пирога имеет от бюджета.. и радуется )))

[Zhirinovsky] doesn't want to be in the driver's seat ))) That would be too much responsibility. He is happy getting his piece of the budget pie )))

That is good news for Central Asian migrants in Russia, but the plain fact that Zhirinovsky is supported by thousands of people is a reason to be concerned. YouTube user ‘Anonim Anonimov' writes [ru] underneath the video of the talk-show with Zhirinovsky:

А были ли фальсификации на недавних выборах если Жириновский из передачи в передачу побеждает адекватность с подобным перевесом? Может у нас и вправду с народом просто что-то не то?

Maybe there were no falsifications during the recent elections if Zhirinovsky goes from debate to debate winning with such massive margins? Maybe there is really something wrong with our people?

This post is part of the GV Central Asia Interns Project at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Turkmen Leader Falls off Horse

Alexander Sodiqov — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:11:27 +0000

On April 28, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan and his horse won a race in Ashgabat. Soon after crossing the finish line, however, Berdymukhamedov's horse stumbled and he landed on the dirt. The footage of the embarrassing incident had been made public by international media, and Turkmen dissidents are using the video as an opportunity to ridicule the ‘record-breaking’ president. Blog Ruslana T presents several videos which link the Turkmen leader's spill with episodes from popular Soviet and Hollywood films (here, here, and here).

“Women Can Change Afghanistan”: Interview with Noorjahan Akbar

Omid Bidar — Wed, 01 May 2013 02:46:47 +0000

Noorjahan Akbar, 22, is an Afghan women's rights activist and a prolific blogger. Although she is now studying in the United States, Noorjahan writes about the issues confronting women in Afghanistan for online magazines and blogs. Global Voices Online has recently interviewed Noorjahan.

Global Voices: Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Noorjahan Akbar: I was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. When the Taliban ruled my country, I lived with my family in Pakistan. I then came to the United States where I graduated from a high school. Now I study sociology at the Dickinson College [in Carlisle, Pennsylvania]. After the graduation, I am planning to go back to my home country -where I travel every summer – to work on women's issues.

I became engaged in efforts to empower women in 2008, when I did research on women's music in northern Afghanistan. That experience shaped how I think about women. It allowed me to talk to women and listen to their songs and stories. I also worked with a youth group dedicated to social reforms, helping them with organizing protests and other events. In 2011, I co-founded the organization Young Women for Change (YWC) and worked with them until September 2012.

Noorjahan Akbar. Photo by Alex Motiuk, used with permission.

GV: Why did you choose to campaign for women's rights?

NA: As a woman, I have frequently experienced injustice and discrimination, and I am aware of the many ways in which women are treated as second-class citizens and are not being recognized as whole human beings. I believe, however, that women have the power to change Afghanistan and help it move towards becoming a modern and developed nation. And I want to work on empowering women to realize that they have this power, as well as to harness and use this power. I hope that my efforts will help change the way people – both men and women – think about women so that we may be recognized as human beings and our rights as human rights.

GV: Campaigning for women's rights in Afghanistan can be quite dangerous.

NA: Yes, but I believe the cause is worth the risk. We have one life only, and I believe in spending this life on something that will create a lasting change. I also know that threats are not the whole story; there are many people standing behind and beside me and supporting me, even if they are unable to say it out loud at the moment.

GV: What do you think about women's rights in Afghanistan over the last decade? Has there been positive change?

NA: Definitely. There has been a lot of change, particularly in how women view themselves. A major part of the force behind that change is media.

GV: In your view, what does the future hold for Afghan women?

NA: I think Afghan women have many challenges ahead. Our rights are being spoken about mainly for political purposes. Our access to justice is minimal. Our numbers in media and public offices have gone down since 2010. Many of us still do not finish high school, and a majority of us are forced to marry, often at an early age.
However, there are also signs of hope. Women around the country learn about their rights, stand up for themselves, and speak up. Women are taking jobs, graduating from universities, and creating businesses. These women will shape the future of the country. They will not be caged again.

GV: What role do women play in Afghan media?

NA: There are many women working in Afghanistan's media. There are also many newspapers, magazines, and websites dedicated to women's issues. Recently, women's magazine Rastan (Awakening) was created to bridge the gap between different groups of women.
However, the number of women working in media has gone down over the last two years. The reason for that is the lack of protection for women who dare to show their faces on TV or raise their voices on radio. Overall, there is very little protection for journalists in Afghanistan. This is something we need to focus on if we want to move towards real freedom of speech and democracy. There needs to be a stronger movement to hold the government accountable for the protection of those who use media to highlight people's voices and concerns.

GV: You are a blogger, too. Which blogs do you write for?

NA: I have my own blog in Farsi, but I also blog for UN Dispatch, Safe World for Women International, Negah-e-Zan [Woman's Vision, in Farsi], Rahe Madaniyat, Afghanistan Express, and Afghanistan Outlook.

GV: In your opinion, how effective is blogging as an avenue for Afghan women to highlight their plight?

NA: Very effective. The number of women who are blogging, reading each other's writings, and sharing them on social media is increasing. This has led to the creation of a dialogue about women's literary powers and women's agency through writing. This is most apparent in the efforts of Afghan Women's Writing Project [AWWP], for example.

GV: What is your message for the women and men in Afghanistan?

NA: It's time to realize that Afghanistan will not reach its full potential without the participation of all of us in the process of rebuilding it. We need to take the ownership of our country and lead it to becoming an independent and stable nation. Women can contribute tremendously in that process. Preventing women from education, employment, or from exercising other basic rights is not only a violation of their human rights but also a betrayal of the land we all share.

Cartoon: Girls Prevented from Leaving Kyrgyzstan

Alexander Sodiqov — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:41:59 +0000

Art group '705′ has produced a two-minute animation film on the increasing social restrictions that girls and women in Kyrgyzstan face in trying to leave the country in search of work.

The artists describe [ru] their film, ‘Did Not Let Go,’ as follows:

A father had a bad dream which now troubles him. So, he decides that his daughter will not travel anywhere. He takes away her passport and air tickets while she is sleeping, but the daughter takes the documents back. Finally, the father decides to lock his daughter at home to prevent her from leaving.

Thousands of girls and women leave the Central Asian country every year, mainly for Russia, where some of them are subjected to ‘patriotic’ attacks from their male counterparts from Kyrgyzstan. A member of the Kyrgyz parliament has recently proposed a bill that would ban girls under 23 years of age from leaving the country without parental consent in order to ‘protect’ them.

NewEurasia.net has more on the new art by group '705′. The group became popular in Kyrgyzstan and some other countries in Central Asia by producing animation films that address the role and status of women in a patriarchal society.

Kazakhstan's First Ever Lesbian Wedding

Alexander Sodiqov — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:51:05 +0000

Vox Populi presents a photo report [ru] about what they call the “first ever lesbian wedding” in Kazakhstan. The photo blog explains:

This was a real wedding. With limousines. With friends and guests. With champagne. With congratulatory speeches. You might ask, “but what about the law?” You see, love does not recognize the law. This is why the wedding took place. However, it was not [registered by the state]. Same-sex marriage are not allowed [in Kazakhstan].

‘Awe-Inspiring Fortresses’ in Eastern Tajikistan

Alexander Sodiqov — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:35:28 +0000

Caravanistan presents a collection of images of the “awe-inspiriting fortresses” in the eastern Tajik region of Badakhshan (or GBAO). The ruins of these fortresses, some of which are still used by Tajik border guards, suggest that “life was once very different here”.

Was Kyrgyzstan Ready for ‘The Vagina Monologues'?

Bermet Zhumakadyr kyzy — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:11:14 +0000

Amid vocal protests [ru] from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture, a local activist group, Bishkek Feminist Collective SQ, performed the play ‘The Vagina Monologues‘ in the capital of Kyrgyzstan in March and April. The play by American playwright and feminist Eve Ensler about female sexuality and experiences earned mixed reactions from the Bishkek audience.

Politically, Kyrgyzstan is often seen as being more liberal than its Central Asian neighbors. So far it is the only country in Central Asia to have had a female president. It was also the first country in the region to stage ‘The Vagina Monologues’ in 2009. However, Kyrgyzstan is also the only country in the region where bride kidnapping is still widely practiced, a predominantly conservative society and for a long time part of the Soviet Union, a country where the catchphrase “there is no sex in the USSR” [ru] became a union-wide meme (here a blogger explains the story behind the catchphrase). Thus, despite being staged in Bishkek for the third time, it is perhaps unsurprising that ‘The Vagina Monologues’ raised controversy.

Staging ‘The Vagina Monologues’ in Bishkek, 2013. Image from the Bishkek Feminist Collective SQ Facebook page, used with permission.

‘Corrosion’ of morals?

In early April, the Ministry of Culture recommended [ru] that the organizers discontinue staging the “controversial play” in Bishkek based on the concern that ‘The Vagina Monologues’ “features episodes that contribute to the corrosion of moral and ethical standards and national traditions of the peoples of Kyrgyzstan.”

The ministry’s statement provoked both negative and positive comments in social media.

Bektour Iskender, Kyrgyz journalist, commented [ru] on kloop.kg's Facebook plugin:

Я, честно говоря, не хочу больше на свои налоги содержать это глупое министерство культуры.

Honestly, I don’t want my taxes to be used for funding this stupid ministry of culture.

The opposite opinion was expressed [ru] by another Facebook user, Nazgul Nuranova:

Прошу госорганы полностью запретить эту пьесу!

I request that the authorities ban the play completely!

What's in the name?

The play was staged in Bishkek as part of the V-Day campaign, a global effort to end violence against women and girls.

Aikanysh Jeenbaeva, a co-founder of the Bishkek Feminist Collective SQ and one of the organizers of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ in the country, suspects that the ministry drew conclusions about the play based on its title. “I think none of them have actually seen the play and they’re just judging it by its name,” she said in a recent interview.

Stuart Kahn, director of Freedom House in Kyrgyzstan, also suspects that the ministry drew conclusions about the play based on its title:

[A]pparently just the title of The Vagina Monologues announcement, an episodic play about the feminine experience, has evoked negative and threatening response from Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Culture… [The monologues] are on topics such as love, violence and anatomy but is primarily about female empowerment and individuality.

Kahn also emphasized the scope of domestic violence in Kyrgyzstan:

Over 85% of households in Kyrgyzstan experience domestic violence and bride kidnapping and rape are increasingly being documented. Until recently, punishment for stealing a cow was greater than for stealing a woman, although prosecution is still more likely just in cases of cows. Only through an open discussion on problems confronting any society can changes be made.

But the play has been criticized for what some people believe is the lack of relevance to the experience of Kyrgyz women. In a detailed review of the performance, blogger Georgii Mamedov writes [ru]:

Фактически, зритель, посетивший спектакль, осведомляется о фетишистских представлениях о своем влагалище белых американок среднего класса. Одна из них мечтает, что ее вагина будет носить бриллианты от Тиффани, другой на консультации у семейного психотерапевта рекомендуют брить вагину, чтобы удержать мужа, другая, бывшая успешная адвокатша, становится элитной проституткой, обслуживающей женщин. В своего рода кульминационном монологе – «Вагина в гневе» — героиня возмущается бумажными халатами и холодными инструментами гинекологических кабинетов. Интересно, какой процент кыргызстанских женщин вообще не охвачен гинекологическим медицинским обеспечением?

Having attended the performance, the audience becomes aware of the fetishist attitudes of white middle-class American females. One of them dreams that her vagina would wear Tiffany diamonds; another one, during a visit to a family psychotherapist, is recommended to shave her vagina in order to keep her husband; the third woman, a former successful lawyer, becomes an elite prostitute for women. In what in many ways is the climax of the monologues – ‘My Angry Vagina’ – the speaker resents paper gowns and cold medical tools in the gynecologist’s office. I wonder what percentage of women in Kyrgyzstan have access to gynecological medical support at all.

‘The road to hell…’

The performance has also drawn harsh criticism from the infamously conservative member of the parliament Tursunbai Bakir uulu. Questioning the justification for the staging of the play in the country, the MP tweeted [ru] on April 9:

@bakiruulu: [...]Благими намерениями дорога в Ад вымощена!

@bakiruulu: [...]The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

(NB: Bakir uulu’s initiatives, radical in their own way, have provided Global Voices Online with plenty of material since the current Kyrgyz parliament was formed in October 2012. See here, here, here, and here.)

Responding to the MP's tweet, Altynai Amati wrote [ru] on April 9:

@Altynai_Amati: @bakiruulu Вы бы пришли, послушали, а потом говорили про дорогу в ад;)

@Altynai_Amati: @bakiruulu You should come to the play, listen [to what is being discussed], and then only talk about the road to hell;)

But the pious deputy declined [ru] the invitation:

@bakiruulu: @Altynai_Amati Да хранит Аллах всех нас от святотатства и грешных дел! Аамин!

@bakiruulu: @Altynai_Amati: May Allah save us all from sacrilege and sin! Amen!

A satire blog on the local news outlet Akipress pokes fun [ru] at those who demand that the play be banned:

В [Кыргызстане] хотят запретить показывать еще один раз спектакль «Болтливая вагина». Взамен предлагают крутить дома сколько хочешь ХХХ -видео «Упрямый пенис», которое можно купить в любом ларьке за углом. Хулители спектакля объяснили, что вагина не для того создана, чтобы ею говорить о насилии, а для того, чтобы это насилие в ней осуществлять.

In Kyrgyzstan, they want to ban the performance ‘Chatty Vagina'. Instead, they recommend watching over and over ‘Stubborn Penis', an XXX video that can be bought on any street corner and played at home. Critics of the play explain that vagina was not created with the goal of talking about violence; the goal was to have violence inflicted on the vagina.

All funds raised by staging ‘The Vagina Monologues’ went to benefit a crisis center that works with female victims of domestic and sexual violence and provides a shelter for them.

Afghan Leader's ‘Brothers’ Carry Out a Deadly Attack

Samea Shanori — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 04:23:23 +0000

With about 20 months remaining before the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, the country's police forces and military assume greater responsibility for security. There are fears, however, that the violence in the country will increase with the departure of foreign troops by the end of 2014. As a recent deadly attack in the western town of Farah shows, the Taliban remains a formidable threat.

On April 3, 2013, nine Taliban insurgents stormed a court in Farah, leaving 46 people dead and almost 100 wounded. Casualties included both civilians and members of local security forces. The attack reportedly aimed to free a group of Taliban prisoners standing trial.

The assault was the most violent and sophisticated in a series of similar incidents that have occurred across the country as Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, continued negotiations with the Taliban. Following the attack, Karzai met with families of the victims. Addressing a crowd in Farah, he blamed unspecified “neighbors” for violence in the country:

All the miseries that Afghans face today are due to the interference of neighbours near and far. Afghans could reconcile with Afghan Taliban, but we struggle against those who are foreigners and who [help the Taliban from outside].

‘Brothers’

Screenshot of TV Tolo News Facebook page with a discussion about Hamid Karzai's trip to Farah.

On April 9, Afghan TV channel Tolo News aired a talk show [fa] in which Karzai's trip to Farah was discussed. During the show, Assadullah Sahadati, an MP, criticized Karzai's “soft” stance on the Taliban and his rhetoric which divided the insurgents into Afghan and non-Afghan ones. Sahadati noted that the Taliban had claimed responsibility for the attacks. He also mentioned that both Pakistani and Afghan elements within the violent movement had been waging a war on US-led forces in the country.

Karzai's attempts to forge a workable alliance with the Taliban in the face of external threats is nothing new – he has frequently spoken of his “brothers” within the movement and blamed Pakistan for many of the country's ills. However, his claims contradict statements made by the Afghan Taliban, including through their website. After the attack in Farah, the Taliban declared that they would continue targeting the country's judiciary if any of their fighters are prosecuted.

The news was also widely disseminated through social media. For example, Dylan Welch (@dylanwelch) tweeted on April 5:

@dylanwelch: #Taliban spox says Farah killings will be repeated, they will continue to target gov judges and lawyers. #Afghanistan shahamat-english.com/index.php/paig…

During the Tolo News talk show, MP Sahadati said [fa]:

The representative of the Afghan Taliban has always openly claimed responsibility for such terrorist activities. When they admit responsibility for such incidents and Karzai [says they should not be blamed], we get confused as to whether to trust what Taliban say or what the Afghan government says.

After the Tolo News posted the video of the talk show on their Facebook page, an Afghan user of the social media service, Farhad Adg Dost, asked on April 8:

Did [Hamid Karzai] also release the other suicide attackers (his brothers) from Farah's prisons???

Another Facebook user commented [fa] on the public page of the Afghan president:

ریاست جمهوری اشتباه کرده اگر ریاست جمهوری به فکر مردم بیچاره افغانستان بود برادران کرزی را که هر روز جنایت می افریند رها نمی
کرد این مرد دغل باز بخاطر بربادی ملت کمر بسته

The presidential administration has made a mistake. If they really cared about the innocent Afghan people, they would never release Karzai's ‘brothers', who commit crimes everyday. This dishonest person [Karzai] has taken every possible effort to ruin the nation.

When news agency Khama Press posted on its Facebook page a report about Karzai's visit to Farah on April 8, the report drew many harsh comments. Szamen Hemmat wrote [fa], for example:

به نظرم میره برای مردم فراه میگه او مردم گناه شما نیست گناه من است من دعوت کرده بودم که خوده کاندید ریاست جمهوری کند ولی متاسفانه نفهمیدم که اونا قسم خورده این خاک است و طریقه کمپاین اونا همین قسم است…ومتاسفانه کمپاین را از ولایت شما شروع کرد… اما دگه چه باید گفت؟؟؟ خواهد گفت می بخشیند از اینکه زیادتر از ده سال شده شما مردم ملکی وبی گناه را همرا برادرهای ناراضی ام هرروز، هرساعت، هردقیقه، هر ثانیه وهر لحظه -لحظه زندگی بخاک وخون میکشم و اشتباه سیاست من وغرب است… ؟؟؟

Maybe Karzai will tell the people of Farah that [the attack] was his fault since he always calls upon Taliban to negotiate and participate in political life of the country, ignoring the fact that their methods have always been inhuman? What else can he say to the people??? Will he ask the people to forgive him for the fact that during a decade of his presidency, he and his ‘brothers’ killed many civilians and innocent Afghans? Will he admit that it is because of the policies he and the West had followed?

During the decade-long conflict between the insurgents and the Afghan government, thousands of civilians have been killed and maimed. The Taliban, however, does not see the killed people as civilians. Ahmad Shuja (@AhmadShuja) tweeted on April 14:

Taliban vow to avoid civilian casualties during soon-to-start spring offensive. But their definition of ‘civilian’ is contrary to [international] law.

He added:

Roughly, anyone who isn't affiliated with the [government] or ISAF [International Security Assistance Force], i.e., judges, civil servants, etc. are not civilians as per Taliban.

The Taliban often attack individuals supporting or working with the Afghan government or international organizations. On April 8, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said there had been a rise of civilian deaths in the country since the beginning of 2013. According to UNAMA, more than 200 civilians have been killed or injured in the provinces of Farah, Wardak, and Kunar over the last five months.

Many people in the country fear that the security situation will only worsen after NATO forces pull out in 2014. As Karzai's presidential term draws to a close, Afghans are wondering whether the next president will continue holding talks with the men Karzai calls “brothers”.

‘Poor’ Coverage of Boston Marathon Bombing in Media

Alexander Sodiqov — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:17:22 +0000

Matthew Kupfer on Registan blog offers an explanation for the “poor” coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing in American media:

…[M]uch information has been misunderstood due to lack of knowledge about the Caucasus or Russia and a desire to present the suspects in a framework easily understandable to the American public.