Afghanistan bans Indian soap operas

[Dance]

 

[runa moosani]

Long live india afghanistan friendship

 

[Silverblaze]

Its old news. Anyways, since conservatism is so strong there and was helped to grow by some caring neighbors and the west. Afghan society is really good.

Hope they do not ban sports like soccer and cricket like they did in the 90s.

 

[farhan_9909]

one of my afghan friend told me you pakistanis are indians.inferior people

Lol

 

[Sedqal]

Pakistan had an excellent chance to cover Afghanistan through Pashtu channels, which would have been instrumental in not only bringing the people together but could also influence the public opinion. Not to say would have provided a good boost to channel's income.

Always the last one to party, that is why its pertinent that some decision making powers are given to civilians who have a better knack of these things.

 

[sree45]

Good job afghan. Indian Govt should also ban them. Damn those serials, I wasn't able to watch some crucial cricket matches in my childhood.

 

[special]

operas?? ?? i don't even hear of it.

 

[sree45]

KABUL — Indian soap operas, with their tales of family drama and trysts among the rich and beautiful, have transfixed Afghans brought up on turgid state broadcasts and under a Taliban prohibition on television.

But not everyone is a fan.

Conservative Muslim clerics and some politicians are outraged by the soap operas aired hour after hour by more than a dozen private television stations that have sprung up since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

Branding the programs immoral and against Islamic culture, the critics have started a campaign to press the private channels to pull the plug on the soaps.

At Friday prayers at Kabul's largest mosque, Enayatullah Balegh, an influential cleric and university teacher, said that he and his followers were adamant.

"We are 6,000 people in this mosque," he said in front of his congregation, and his intention "is to go and blow up all the TV antennas if they do not stop it."

The congregation chanted in response: "God is greatest, we are ready."

The clerics' campaign gained traction this month when some members of Parliament, supported by the Ministry of Information and Culture, issued a declaration to private TV channels to stop broadcasting five Indian soaps.

But the television stations appear defiant.

"It is against the media law," Masoud Qiam, a senior presenter for Tolo TV, said in an interview, referring to the declaration. "We will not stop the airing of the soap operas."

Tolo is Afghanistan's most popular TV channel, broadcasting a mix of news and entertainment. It has had several brushes with conservatives over its fare.

"We don't consider any of the programs against our culture. These are the most-watched programs that people like," Qiam said.

Conservatives object to the Indian soaps because they show men and women together, women dressed "immodestly" and the worship of Hindu idols.

The channels have made concessions, cutting scenes of Hindu worship and blurring areas of bare flesh. But that hasn't appeased the critics.

"These programs have changed the behavior of our women and children; we don't want them," said Gullab Khan, who was attending Balegh's Friday prayers. "All Muslims know that these things are not allowed in Islam."

Afghan law forbids publication of material "contrary to the principles of Islam." Problems arise in the interpretation of the law.

Despite a wave of unprecedented freedom since the overthrow of the puritanical Taliban, Afghanistan remains a deeply conservative Islamic society.

But more and more Afghans are returning from exile, bringing back new ideas. A large youthful population, particularly in the cities, is eager for new ways.

Afghanistan has its own pop stars who sing ballads and folk songs, and even a rap star. The Afghan version of the American Idol talent show, put out by Tolo, was a sensation but it also raised criticism, especially when a woman finished in third place.

President Hamid Karzai, who has a reputation as a liberal but has been under pressure from conservative forces over several issues including television, has stepped gingerly into the fray.

Trying to keep both sides happy in the run-up to a presidential election he is expected to contest next year, Karzai has insisted that media freedom will be upheld but added that unsuitable material should not be broadcast.

"There will never be interference with media freedom but media freedom should be compatible with the culture of the Afghan people," Karzai said at a recent news conference.

"We wish television to stop them," he said, referring to programs "in contradiction with daily life."

Most viewers don't see any contradiction.

"I like Tulsi a lot, my children like her a lot," said Dell Jan, a mother of six, referring to the main character in one of the most popular Indian soaps. It is broadcast by Tolo and it is one of five shows the conservatives want taken off the air.

"When the serial starts on TV, we stop all work, even eating, and watch it," she said. "We love it — it's entertainment for the children."

src: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/business/worldbusiness/17iht-17soap.12086769.html?_r=0

Old news but still

operas?? ?? i don't even hear of it.

WTF man? Yu never heard of kyun ki saas bhi kabhi bahu thi?

 

[doremon]

i have applied petition to supreme court to ban them in india to because they suck,i know lot of pakistanis watch these

 

[JohnyBoy]

Good Move by Afghanistan...

 

[SirHatesALot]

Jassi jasi koi nahin

 

[RescueRanger]

Old News, part of the compromise with the Turbans in the east.

 

[kaykay]

I'll consider it as a good move by Afgan govt.

 

[Star Wars]

Isn't this old news ?

 

[Ayush]

@Sher Malang yaar,u got any idea about our daily soaps??