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| Afghanistan |
| Afghan woman singer back on state-run television |
| 2004-01-20 |
| A women singer has reappeared on Afghan state-run television, apparently signalling that reformists have won a dispute with conservatives over women entertainers. President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday it should be left to the government to decided whether women could be shown singing on television and hours later Kabul Television aired a tape of a performance by 1980s star Ustad Mahwash. |
| Posted by:TS |
| #3 I think that Karzai made a pretty good short term solution. I knew a guy named Liedinger, who's dad had been the city manager of Richmond, VA. He explained that the best way to avoid ugliness when faced with a Neo-Nazi group, that wants to hold a march to incite people, is to grant the permit... for 4 am to 5 am. Ideally, the TV station shouldn't be state censored by consumers boycotting advertisers who fund offensive shows. That's probably a stretch in the current Afghan reality. Hahmed's Opium Silo is unlikely to flood the local market with marketing dollars. Bubba's Discount UN Aid Package Retail, Omar's AK Repair and Mumar's Ordinance Salvage Shop are likely advertisers down the road but are probably currently using most of their spare funds for protection money |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-1-20 1:35:45 PM |
| #2 They're doomed. But, on the goodside, at least Afghanistan is no longer living in the 7th Century like the rest of the moooslimes. They jumped all the way to the 9th, maybe 10th century. |
| Posted by: Swiggles 2004-1-20 11:01:51 AM |
| #1 I suppose that this issue is as good a place to test the new constitution as any, but the conservatives (Taliban Lite) aren't finished. Moderate officials said showing women singers on television was in line with the new Afghan constitution as it gave equal rights to women. But religious conservatives said the ban on women singers was justified because the constitution stated no laws could be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of Islam, which did not allow for women singers. So each time someone advances under the new constitution, the supreme court pulls out the Sharia trump card and slaps them back. My best wishes to the Afghans. |
| Posted by: Gasse Katze 2004-1-20 10:18:15 AM |