Music, female presenters banned in Kandahar radios, TVs

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): The Culture and Information Department of southern Kandahar province has banned music and female voices on radios and televisions in the province.

Maulvi Rahmatullah Naraiwal, director the department, without elaborating, said the decision had been made by the department.

All local media outlets (radios and televisions) in Kandahar have been informed that music and programs that featured women’s voices or women presenters in any form were not allowed, he added. He called on the media outlets to refrain from such acts.

Bismillah Watandos, head of the Milat Ghag Radio in Kandahar, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate’s decision meant shutting down the media organizations.

He added that entertainment was an important need of human life, people want to listen to entertainment programs besides news, religious and social programs, but if the entertainment section in the media is closed, the listeners would quit.

He also noted that local radio stations ran on ads and when a radio station did not have entertainment, investors would not advertise.

Naqib Siddiqui, head of another local radio station in Kandahar, also objected to the decision, saying that in all Islamic countries with Sharia law, there were no restrictions on female media outlets, so why was it banned in Afghanistan?

This issue and the concerns of the media officials were discussed with the IIE Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, but he did not provide information after a long wait.

There are currently three TV stations in Kandahar, including the National Radio and Television, and 16 local radio stations, which cover most of their expenses through advertisements.

sa/ma