A criminal case has been opened against Kashkadarya-based blogger Sardor Safarboyev, aka ‘Sardor Gangster’, on account of his statement on TikTok that he does not want to have a daughter. “I’m not having a daughter. If a daughter is born, I’ll throw my wife out. I don’t need a daughter… if it’s a girl, I’ll throw it straight into the dustbin. I don’t need a daughter. Even if I go to hell, I will [have] a son,” Safarboyev said on air.
Following heavy criticism from social media users and activists, the blogger apologized, saying that his words had been provoked by live comments on air. A girl who participated in the broadcast also spoke in Safarboyev’s defense, stating that users of the site had deliberately provoked him.
Iroda Rasulova, head of the press service of the Kashkadarya Oblast Department of Internal Affairs, announced that the Nishan District Department of Internal Affairs had opened a case under Article 140, Part 2 of the Uzbek Criminal Code. This article deals with insults published in the media or on the internet and provides for punishments such as a fine, community service, or correctional labor. Investigative work into the case is ongoing.
Prior to TikTok being blocked in Uzbekistan, Safarboyev had over 700,000 followers on the platform and over 500,000 on Instagram. This recent incident is not the first time the blogger has been condemned. As recently as February, Safarboyev was arrested for ten days after being found guilty of petty hooliganism and manufacturing, possession, or distribution of materials propagandizing national, racial, ethnic, or religious hatred.
In Uzbekistan, the preference for the birth of sons persists due to traditional attitudes and gender stereotypes. This problem, characteristic of many Asian countries, is deeply rooted in cultural and social norms. According to reports by international organizations such as UNFPA, the preference for sons leads to gender imbalance, limits women’s rights, and is an issue frequently raised in international forums concerning the combating of gender discrimination.
