NEWS

The pixillators of Kabul
Padraig Reidy: Afghan authorities are fighting a losing battle against Bollywood.
19 Mar 10

It seems the Afghan authorities are fighting a losing battle against “racy” television content.

Reuters reports:

The new information and culture minister, Sayed Makhdoom Raheen, summoned the heads of some 20 private broadcasters and cable operators last month, demanding they revise their programs and follow government restrictions.

“I told them that in addition to your personal interests … you should not forget your social and Islamic obligations and act responsibly with regard to the morals of the new generation,” Raheen told Reuters in an interview.

Bollywood films and pop videos are immensely popular in Afghanistan, but apparently the bared mid-riffs and arms of the dancers are too much for the authorities.

The solution? Afghan TV stations employ full-time pixillators. But even then, the occassional elbow or bellybutton can slip through the net.

Read more here

Hat tip @marklittlenews

By Padraig Reidy

Padraig Reidy is the editor of Little Atoms and a columnist for Index on Censorship. He has also written for The Observer, The Guardian, and The Irish Times.

READ MORE

CAMPAIGNS

SUBSCRIBE