The pixillators of Kabul

19 Mar 10 | Uncategorized

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

Afghan media allowed to cover live attacks, “disturbing” images disallowed

17 Mar 10 | Index Index, minipost

Afghanistan has watered down plans to ban the media from reporting on live attacks. Authorities had claimed such reports would embolden militants, but an outcry resulted in a new resolution being hammered over three days. The new resolution bars the press from showing the faces of security personal or broadcasting “disturbing” images, but allows media to report on live attacks. The law does not define “disturbing”. Afghan journalists’ groups said they remained suspicious of the motives behind the new guidelines, which they believed could be used to cover up government failings.