Lovers in Uzbekistan who used to celebrate Valentine’s Day by hearing pop singer Rayhan sing will have to look for other forms of entertainment this year. Rayhan, a popular singer has given concerts on 14 February for years. But this month the show has been cancelled, along with other events. Instead of Valentine’s Day, the authorities are trying instead to promote the study and appreciation of a local hero, the Moghul emperor Babur, whose birthday falls on 14 February. It is not the first time that the authorities and the state media in particular have taken aim at what they see as damaging Western influences. In the past few weeks there have been several articles attacking foreign soap operas from Mexico and Latin America for being too explicit and for undermining local values and traditions.
