Cable TV suspension draws criticism

Residents of the Afghan capital, Kabul, have criticised a government decision to suspend cable television rights in the city. The suspension follows a similar move in the eastern province of Jalalabad last month. "I wanted to release our war-affected people from two and half decades of isolation," Aimal Khan, the owner of one of three cable networks operating in Kabul told IRIN on Thursday. "Our people need information on developments in the world," the 30-year-old businessman, who has invested US $40,000 in an effort to show educational and entertainment channels, explained. His comments follow Tuesday’s surprise decision by Afghan Chief Justice, Fazel Hadi Shinwari, who deemed the cable television service un-Islamic. "We are Afghans. We are Muslims. We have Islamic laws and values in our country," he reportedly said. Following the collapse of the Taliban - who had banned all television access - Khan noted the large number of people in Kabul who had bought satellite receivers to tune in to international channels. However, such dishes were financially out of reach to most people, and cable TV - which had been authorised by the Afghan government last August - makes it cheaper and easier for people to watch news, music and international movie channels. The cable TV networks offered around 36 international channels, including BBC, CNN and the Qatar-based, Aljazeera news service, as well as music and movie channels, for only four dollars a month or around three days' salary for the average civil servant. "It was rather safe and useful," Mohammad Na'im, a resident of the Mecrorayan district of Kabul, told IRIN, adding that the cable network already censored sexual material. But despite the fact that the vast majority of those interviewed were unhappy with the decision, there were those like Abdul Waseh, who called it fair, explaining that his children would not study when there had been movies on TV. "Most of the channels were Hollywood and Bollywood movies," he said, noting that there had been a new movie on every hour. Nonetheless, the Kabul shopkeeper felt that the government should allow a limited number of channels. The ban also concerned some people who did not have access to cable TV. "I was disappointed having heard of the suspension of cable TV," Shakila Tawana told IRIN, noting that up to now there had not been any means of entertainment, and that the government should either raise the standard of Afghan television programmes or further facilitate cable TV so that everyone could use it. However, while the decision was official, the government still viewed cable television positively, Minister of Information and Culture Sayed Makhdom Raheen told IRIN. "There is no restriction from our side," he said, adding that a new law governing cable television was set to be introduced very soon. "We are not against cable TV," he said, warning, however, that they would prevent cable networks from airing programmes which might prove harmful to Afghan "national and cultural values". Meanwhile, Aimal Khan said his organisation had been promised by the ministry to be issued with licences and a list of approved channels next week. "I am sure most of the high authorities like it," he said, observing that Nematullah Shahrani, who despite being a clergyman and vice-president of the current transitional government, also had cable TV.