The last Goths in Uzbekistan (1 Viewer)

[pete]

With their pale painted faces, carefully sculpted dyed-black hair and heavy eyeliner, goths are not a common sight in the predominantly Muslim central Asian nation of Uzbekistan.

The youth subculture has had a small presence on the streets of the capital, Tashkent, since the 1990s.


A fascination with gothic horror, Victoriana and pagan-inspired flouncy fashion in dark moody colours is not normally a sign of political dissent. But goths here believe they are increasingly being targeted by the authorities who, they say, show little tolerance for alternative lifestyles.

There has been a campaign in Uzbek media denouncing Western mass culture for encouraging "immorality" among the youth and for "damaging the country's national values and traditions". Rap, rock and heavy metal have been labelled "alien music" and some genres have been subsequently banned.Recently even Russian state TV broadcast claimed that goths engage in cannibalism. Many Uzbeks watch Russian television and are influenced by such coverage.

During one punk rock concert during the last two years, masked police turned up in large numbers and began rounding up the fans, detaining some for several hours.
The BBC tried to get a response from the Uzbek authorities, but they did not provide any. They do not respond to queries, saying the BBC is not accredited in Uzbekistan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19009188

 

[Deadmanposting]

Ha.

I was just reading this earlier.


Reminded me how much I hate Evanescence.