ISLAMABAD – A popular Tajik pop star has been fined for celebrating herbirthday, which is a breach of her country’s law on celebrations.
Firuza Khafizova was fined 5,000 somoni ($530) by a court in the capital ofDushanbe after she posted videos of her party on her Instagramlink account, featuringher and her guests performing on stage, according to BBC.
Article 8 of Tajikistan’s regulations on traditions, celebrations andcustoms bans birthday celebrations outside the family home.
The prosecutor in her case defended the restrictions, saying they are inthe best interest of citizens, so they can spend their money on familyneeds rather than on unnecessarily lavish celebrations.
But many Tajiks have taken to social media to vent their displeasure atthe “strange law”, pointing out it is personal business in which the stateshouldn’t interfere.