Uzbeks to Try Three for Theatre Director's Murder
Uzbeks to Try Three for Theatre Director's Murder
The authorities in Uzbekistan are moving closer to trying three men for the murder of leading theatre director Mark Weil two years ago. All the signs are that prosecutors will accuse the three of killing Weil because they believed a play he staged at his Ilhom Theatre contained disrespectful references to Islam.
Reports appeared in early November that the investigation had been completed, but neither police nor prosecutors are saying anything in public.
There are reports that three suspects are being held – two of them Uzbek nationals and one Tajik – while a fourth is still on the run.
Marat Zahidov, head of a group called the Committee for the Defence of the Rights of the Individual, told IWPR he had learned from security sources that the men had admitted seeing a play by Weil, called “Imitations of the Koran”, and being offended by its depiction of the Prophet Muhammed.
Based on loosely on works by 19th century Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and mixing video, music and dance, the play was first put on at the Ilhom Theatre in Tashkent in 2002 and was subsequently staged in other countries. It proved popular in Uzbekistan, but may have caused offence to some since depiction of the Prophet is forbidden in Islam.
Other commentators note that another play staged by Weil, based on a work by 20th century Uzbek writer Abdullo Qodiri, was about a boy who develops feelings for a friend. The suggestion of homosexual love is a taboo subject for many in this overwhelmingly Muslim country.
“In this country, it’s more dangerous to stage plays that touch on [Islam] than it is to criticise the dictatorial government,” said a local journalist. “You might get killed for it.”
(NBCentralAsia is an IWPR-funded project to create a multilingual news analysis and comment service for Central Asia, drawing on the expertise of a broad range of political observers across the region. The project ran from August 2006 to September 2007, covering all five regional states. With new funding, the service has resumed, covering Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.)
Reports appeared in early November that the investigation had been completed, but neither police nor prosecutors are saying anything in public.
There are reports that three suspects are being held – two of them Uzbek nationals and one Tajik – while a fourth is still on the run.
Marat Zahidov, head of a group called the Committee for the Defence of the Rights of the Individual, told IWPR he had learned from security sources that the men had admitted seeing a play by Weil, called “Imitations of the Koran”, and being offended by its depiction of the Prophet Muhammed.
Based on loosely on works by 19th century Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and mixing video, music and dance, the play was first put on at the Ilhom Theatre in Tashkent in 2002 and was subsequently staged in other countries. It proved popular in Uzbekistan, but may have caused offence to some since depiction of the Prophet is forbidden in Islam.
Other commentators note that another play staged by Weil, based on a work by 20th century Uzbek writer Abdullo Qodiri, was about a boy who develops feelings for a friend. The suggestion of homosexual love is a taboo subject for many in this overwhelmingly Muslim country.
“In this country, it’s more dangerous to stage plays that touch on [Islam] than it is to criticise the dictatorial government,” said a local journalist. “You might get killed for it.”
(NBCentralAsia is an IWPR-funded project to create a multilingual news analysis and comment service for Central Asia, drawing on the expertise of a broad range of political observers across the region. The project ran from August 2006 to September 2007, covering all five regional states. With new funding, the service has resumed, covering Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.)
