DUSHANBE, March 25, 2009, Asia-Plus — Tajik culture authorities claim that they have not banned the play “Madness. 93” by known Tajik stage director Barzou Abdurazzoqov.
“No ban has been put on the play “Madness. 93” by Barzou Abdurazzoqov,” the first Deputy Culture Minister, Mirali Dostiyev, said in an interview with Asia-Plus today.
According to him, the Ministry of Culture (MoC) just temporarily suspended the performance “in order that playwright could correct some aspects of the play’s scenario and after that the performance will resume.”
In the meantime, Barzou Abdurazzoqov gave a press conference at the Tajik Journalists’ Union in Dushanbe on March 21. Speaking to reporters, the playwright said that a MoC had not given any reason for its decision to ban the performance.
We will recall that an opening night of the play, “Madness. 93,”” based on history of life of political theorist and scientist better known as a radical journalist and politician from the French Revolution Jean-Paul Marat and raising social problems, was held at the Russian Academic Drama Theatre named after Vladimir Mayakovsky in Dushanbe on March 17 and the performance delighted the audience. The play based on “93” by Victor Hugo and “The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat” by German playwright Peter Ulrich Weiss told revolutionary events of the 18th century in France.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Abdurazzoqov said on March 19 that the opening night was very successful and the play was supposed to be shown within the next tend days. “However, officials from the Ministry of Culture who also attended the performance unofficially banned further the performance,” Abdurazzoqov said
People who came on March 18 to watch the performance saw an announcement noting that the performance is canceled for uncertain period as leading character fell ill.
Speaking to reporters on March 21, Barzou Abdurazzoqov assumed that Tajik authorities had probably saw any “call for revolution” in the themes of the play, “while it is not so; it is just a historical theme.”
Professor Ibrohim Usmonov, who is member of the arts council within the MoC, told Asia-Plus today that members of the ministry’s arts council had assessed the play positively. “The themes of the play are universal and they can be seen in any country of the world. This play is just an artwork and does not have any political hidden motives,” Usmonov said.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on March 21 that Abdurazzoqov said he thinks it is likely that the Tajik authorities saw parallels between the themes of the play and Tajikistan”s civil war of the mid-1990s. He also said that it is not the first time his work has been banned, and that he might consider leaving the country.
Officials at the Ministry of Culture told RFE/RL that the play was banned only during the celebration of Navrouz between March 21 and 23, and that performances will resume after that.
