April 17, 2008
Indian Soap Opera Lovers & Haters In Afghanistan
Most Afghanis love Indian soap operas, but Muslim cleric's are crying foul. The clerics are accusing TV station Tolo of showing a program that may "corrupt" the populace of Afghanistan.
Branding the programmes immoral and against Islamic culture, the critics have launched a campaign to press the private channels to pull the plug on the soaps.The main reason they want the soap opera banned? Women are shown on the program.At Friday prayers at Kabul's largest mosque, Enayatullah Balegh, an influential cleric and university teacher, told reporters he and his followers were adamant.
"We are 6,000 people in this mosque, our intention ... is to go and blow up all the TV antennas if they do not stop it," Balegh said in front of his congregation.
"God is greatest, we are ready," the congregation chanted in response.
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, told Reuters, referring to the declaration.
"We will not stop the airing of the soap operas," he said.
God forbid if women have the same rights as men! Next thing you know they will be burning their burqas. They may even discard their burqinis and wear a real swimsuit. The shame.
"These programmes have changed the behaviour of our women and children, we don't want them. All Muslims know that these things are not allowed in Islam," said Gullab Khan, who was attending Balegh's Friday prayers.Keep bringing these new ideas to Afghanistan, you'll be glad you did.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.
