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| Tajikistan man fined for holding 'illegal' birthday party | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A man has reportedly been fined for holding an ‘illegal’ birthday party in Tajikistan. | |
| Isayev Amirbek, who was celebrating his 25th birthday, posted photos on Facebook showing his visit to a café with his birthday cake, according to the BBC. | |
| The photos were used as evidence that he had broken Article 8 of a law entitled “On regulation of traditions and customs in the Republic of Tajikistan”, which bans the celebration of birthdays anywhere except in the privacy of the family circle. | |
| The law is aimed to regulate citizens’ public functions to preserve traditions and prevent excessive spending. | The law is aimed to regulate citizens’ public functions to preserve traditions and prevent excessive spending. |
| As such, it limits the number of guests, how much money can be spent and the duration of the gathering. | As such, it limits the number of guests, how much money can be spent and the duration of the gathering. |
| The post on social media, along with messages of congratulations from friends, has landed him a fine of 4,000 somoni (£400), according to Top TJ news. | The post on social media, along with messages of congratulations from friends, has landed him a fine of 4,000 somoni (£400), according to Top TJ news. |
| Court officials said it was the first time Tajik prosecutors had used Facebook photos and comments as evidence in such a case. | Court officials said it was the first time Tajik prosecutors had used Facebook photos and comments as evidence in such a case. |
| While Amirbek conceded he was in the café with friends on the date in question, he said it was a spontaneous decision after going into a shop to pick up the cake, not a planned celebration. | While Amirbek conceded he was in the café with friends on the date in question, he said it was a spontaneous decision after going into a shop to pick up the cake, not a planned celebration. |
| “Somehow, the cake got plastered on his face. No-one congratulated him on his birthday,” a waiter told the court. | “Somehow, the cake got plastered on his face. No-one congratulated him on his birthday,” a waiter told the court. |
| The explanation was not accepted by the judge. | The explanation was not accepted by the judge. |
| “I was aware of the law,” Amirbek told Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Liberty, “but I always thought it was against people who spend lots of money and throw lavish parties.” | “I was aware of the law,” Amirbek told Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Liberty, “but I always thought it was against people who spend lots of money and throw lavish parties.” |
| On his Facebook page, Amirbek said he does not possess the money for the fine and intends to make an appeal to a higher court. | On his Facebook page, Amirbek said he does not possess the money for the fine and intends to make an appeal to a higher court. |
| Last year, the law against celebrating birthdays in public was apparently violated 394 times. |