[RFE/RL] Uzbek authorities have condemned a popular singer's "shameless" choice of clothing and warned her to avoid offending national "mentality and values," hinting that she might be tossed out of the industry for her transgressions.The singer, Aziza Niyazmetova, was told by Uzbeknavo, the state agency overseeing the music industry, that her appearance will be a determining factor in her impending license renewal. Performers are required to obtain a license to work in Uzbekistan.
An official notification tells the singer that authorities will determine whether Niyazmetova "has adhered to ethical norms,...hasn't insulted the audience's feelings, [and] has respected the national mentality, values, and culture." The letter was signed by the head of the license-issuing body, Farhod Juraev, dubbed by some Uzbek performers the "Minister of Singers."
Niyazmetova said that she was summoned over a recent mirror selfie shared on social media that shows her in a sleeveless dress with a bouquet of flowers in front of her.
The meeting at Uzbeknavo came a week after an interview Niyazmetova gave to the press in which she defended a female Uzbek singer who had been criticized on social media for shortcomings in Uzbek language skills. In the interview, Niyazmetova said that Uzbekistan is home to many ethnic groups, including Tajiks, Jews, and Russians, and that "not everyone must speak Uzbek."