Members of Russia's Buddhist community are gathering signatures for a petition to ban the use of Buddhist symbolism in entertainment establishments.
"We, citizens of Russia, followers of the Buddhist religion, appeal to the public authorities to prohibit the use of the name, the statues and images of Buddha and Buddhist deities and Buddhist paraphernalia and symbols in entertainment establishments throughout the Russian Federation: clubs, bars, karaoke bars, restaurants," stated the petition on the Change.org website, which has been signed by almost 7,300 people.
The authors claim that in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yakutsk, Rostov, Orenburg, Tyumen, Taganrog, Krasnoyarsk, Novokuznetsk, Shakhty and other Russian cities, entertainment clubs, bars and restaurants called "Buddha Bars" or "Buddha Karaoke Bars" have been opening.
The petition writers claim that "naked women" have been photographed in such clubs using Buddha statues as part of their "go-go dance" routines. They also objected to the serving of alcohol in such establishments.
The petition stressed that such an attitude to the Buddhist religion "is a gross and impermissible violation of the rights and feelings of believers throughout Russia." It further asks authorities to prohibit the use of Buddhist imagery in entertainment, promotional products, signs and posters.
Earlier the prosecutor of the Kemerovo region found that the use of Buddha statues in a Novokuznetsk bar to be an "insult to the feelings of religious believers." One Buddha Bar in Krasnoyarsk was fined 30,000 rubles under the same law.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
