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Photo from the Erk party |
By Uznews.net Editor-in-Chief Galima Bukharbaeva
The leader of the People’s Movement of Uzbekistan, Muhammad Salih, has once again attacked the Uznews.net site, demonstrating inability not only to listen to criticism and correct mistakes, but also to compare things reasonably and logically.
In a statement entitled “New insinuation in an old style”, he denies his involvement in the distribution of the anti-Semite and nationalistic books Judas-2 and Devil, but is not doing anything to dissociate himself from them, but continuing to advertise them on his website.
Things are still where they started
The site uzbekistanerk.com, which belongs to Salih, still carries a download link to these books and posts a selection of media reports about the start of their distribution in Tajikistan in May.
Russia’s Regnum news agency reports Salih’s words that his supporters last year shot a film entitled Glas Naroda ili Iuda-2 (Voice of the People or Judas-2), which has become “greatly popular” among the audience.
“We decided to publish in a book documents on which the film was based,” Regnum quotes Salih as saying.
In other words, Salih acknowledges his involvement in the publication of these books. He says “we”.
If Regnum distorted his words or attributed to him what he did not say, why is he publishing this message on his site? Why did he not express his protest to the agency?
In an interview with the BBC Radio Uzbek Service, he refuted his direct involvement in the publication of the books, but acknowledges that his supporters were behind it. “These books have been published recently. But they are not posted on the Erk website, it was our supporters who published them.”
These books recount an unconfirmed story about President Islam Karimov’s birth, saying that his genuine father was a Samarkand-based Jew, Iskhak Mirzokantov. The books also point out that Karimov’s wife, Tatyana, is also Jewish on her mother’s side.
The remaining part of the publication is a copy of Internet articles about Uzbek-Tajik relations that have no substantial link between each other, but are united with a strong pro-Tajik bias.
The book’s key message is that Jewish Karimov undermines relations between the two brotherly peoples – Uzbeks and Tajiks.
Salih’s ears
If one is to believe Salih that he had nothing to do with the publication of these books, a question arises as to why he proved to be the virtually only person who was associated with them.
None of the other Uzbek opposition leaders, neither Bahodir Choriyev of the Birdamlik party (Solidarity) nor Abdurahim Pulatov of the Birlik party (Unity), has given an interview claiming their supporters were behind the books. Why?
Why did those who were dramatising the made-up story about the birth of Islam Karimov prove to be Salih’s supporters as if his ethnicity explains his dictatorship?
Why did not Salih, who claim to be a man of liberal views and alien to nationalism and anti-Semitism, condemn the content of the books?
But Salih must remember how he was indignant at the Uznews.net’s publication of comments mentioning his wife’s ethnicity.
He continued accusing the publication of distributing racial and national hatred despite the fact that the editorial staff had removed those comments immediately and apologised to his family.
Why does the book Judas-2 have a similar title as the film Glas naroda ili Iuda-2? I still remember that Uznews.net criticised this film for insulting women, Salih took this as an attack on him and his movement. However, he said that he had nothing to do with the film either.
After all, if one is to believe that Salih had nothing to do those books, a question remains – why is he promoting them on his sites?
Why is this important?
It is unpleasant to hold discussions with Muhammad Salih. The feeling of disgust does not leave you alone as he responds indecently and vulgarly to any discussion invitation or criticism, spicing up his indecency with a spate of groundless accusations.
Sexism is the first thing that can be read in his replies. In the beginning, he explained my articles with “active libido”, and now writes that I am trying to be a “Lady Gaga of journalism”, but obviously, this is insufficient as one has to have some talent as well.
Obsession with sex and preoccupation with sex are characteristic of Salih, as well as of his close associate from the PMU – Imam Muhammadsolih Abutov. If the latter is not engaged in the photomontage of porn pictures, he is involved in their distribution for sure.
As to why they are doing this, we will leave this to his conscience or psychoanalysts’ consideration. Perhaps, experts could find a better explanation. Let’s remember, by the way, Salih’s intention to isolate homosexuals.
The matter is something else. Our society should have enough antibodies against such evils as nationalism, sexism, as well as sexual, religious and other types of discrimination.
We should be able to say “yes, Karimov is one of the most brutal tyrants today”, but the fight against him should not be based on Nazism and it should not make Uzbeks anti-Semites, violating morals and the code of honour.
Books like these pervert people. For ordinary and poorly educated people, books that first say that Karimov was born to a Jewish man and then it lists his crimes against the Uzbek people is a direct call for hatred of Jews.
Healthy and normal people who think with common sense must say NO to this.
Healthy societies exist
I remember a conference of the New America foundation held in Washington in 2005. Most prominent US diplomats, including George Soros and Madeleine Albright, organised it.
Those who gathered asserted their values, which had been partially sacrificed after the 9/11 attacks when George Bush’s government urged people to unite and put aside criticism which he said would serve the enemy’s interests.
“Criticism is patriotism” – Americans stated again. It took them four years or only four years for healthy forces to win so that society could return to their basic value – the freedom of speech.
Protests against the eight years of “Bushism” led to the election of the first black president, Barack Obama.
I believe that Uzbekistan has people with common sense and true values who can say “I will not stoop to nationalism, anti-Semitism and sexism no matter how bad Karimov is. This is bad. This is not me”.
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