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Afghanistan:
New media restrictions according to Sharia law
On 21 April 2008 the Ministry of Culture and Information in Afghanistan sent out a letter entitled 'Letter 653' to all Afghan tv, radio and printed media houses, ordering a new kind of restriction – or self-censorship – in the country's media.
By Samay Hamed – reporting for Freemuse from Kabul
The letter stated that “everything which is against the Sharia laws should not be printed, broadcasted, or audio/video telecasted”. Furthermore, it was mentioned that dancing of men and women is forbidden on tv and video, and that all dance performances, whether produced in Afghanistan or imported from abroad, are now banned.
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| 25 February 2008 |
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| Ghazal Ahmadi |
| Video interview with an Afghan film actress who explains that she stopped learning how to play the guitar because it became too problematic for her |
| 25 February 2008 |
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| Nairez |
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| 25 February 2008 |
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| Safdar Tawakoli |
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| 25 February 2008 |
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