DUSHANBE, November 16, 2012, Asia-Plus — Muhibullo Qurbon, editor-in-chief of the official website of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP), has applied to the Dushanbe mayor’s office, proposing not to install the New Year’s Tree in the center of the city and not to organize the New Year’s show in the central square of Dushanbe.
Mr. Qurbon posted his open letter to the mayor’s office on IRP’s website.
Commenting on his proposal, Muhibullo Qurbon said in an interview with Asia-Plus that it would be better to use funds allocated for installation of the New Year’s Tree and organization of the New Year’s show for purchase of New Year’s presents and food products for elderly people who do not have relatives to support and children from vulnerable families.
Besides, many law enforcement officers are involved to maintain public order during the New Year’s show. “They also could spend winter evening with their families at home,” the IRP website editor noted.
“There also ought to take into account that such shows frequently end with scuffles among youth,” Mr. Qurbon stressed.
Besides, it must be admitted that to celebrate New Year’s is alien to the overwhelming people of our country, who are Muslims,” noted the editor.
He expressed perplexity over the fact that the authorities of Tajikistan, which as a matter of fact is the Muslim country, ban the muezzins” call to prayer through loudspeakers but sometimes come forward in defense of traditions that are alien to the majority of the population, “and celebration of Christian New Year is among such traditions.”
“I recently read on the Internet that Brussels replaced the popular Christmas tree exhibit at the city center due to concerns that it may offend the local Muslim population,” Muhibullo Qurbon said.
