Uzbek TV: "Is it a parking lot or a prayer house or a brothel?"
That's the question the ever-vigilant Uzbek state television asked in a recent special program titled "The City is Not Gateless," featuring a popular truck stop for Turkish drivers, BBC Monitoring Central Asia reported, citing Uzbekistan's First Channel.
Last month, police swooped down on the truck stop, scattering drivers and women claimed to be sex workers. The TV program shows a female climbing out of a truck, and the narrator asks, "What is this woman doing in the a parking lot for Turkish drivers?"
At another parking lot, the camera pans over a praying carpet, some religious books -- and a naked man and woman.
As scenes of tables laden with Uzbek and foreign currencies roll by, the narrator intones:
When Asil Company located in Tashkent Region's Zangiota District was checked, Uzbek law-enforcement officers established that international regulations on goods transportation and transit as well as the country's laws were seriously violated. Specifically, it was established that the company was involved in black-market bookkeeping. The inspection also established that owners had evaded taxes on sums of over 34 million soms [about $20,000 dollars] and $48,965 dollars in cash.
The TV narrator said that the truck companies were violating Uzbekistan's law on foreigners' residence, and that the truck stop violated the health code. A fireman was shown saying the garage failed to meet safety standards, and other officials said there were bootleg license plates as well as illegal tapping of gas and electricity.
Aside from the evidence of black-market activity, Uzbek authorities found "symbols promoting nationalist ideals," as well as religious literature, banned DVDs and books -- and more. The TV says the companies "illegallly set up prayer rooms" and local drivers and workers have been praying there. They also "turned the place into a brothel," the TV show claimed.
"It is shocking that the companies combined both brothel and prayer room in one place," said the narrator.
The TV show went on to stress that the government created "favorable conditions for believers" in Uzbekistan and there were several mosques in Tashkent Region alone -- implying that's where the faithful should go. The narrator concluded the show by praising the government for creating "good conditions for foreign investors" as well -- probably hoping not to scare off Turkish investors.
The Uzbek government seems to be on a morality crusade lately, declaring rock music to be "of the devil," creating a council to censor rap music, and cracking down on what is viewed as illicit religious literature and activities, particularly involving Turkish citizens. Last month, masked police raided dozens of Turkish-owned businesses, accusing them of supporting the followers of Nursi, a Turkish prophet banned in Uzbekistan. Book-sellers were also recently raided.
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