Kabul – Officials in Southern Kandahar backtracked on Thursday on a ban on songs released by women on media channels.
Earlier, media in Afghanistan reported that the provincial governor had placed a ban on songs by women being broadcast by Kandahar’s radio stations.
However, the government spokesman on Thursday claimed that the governor had been misunderstood.
“We have in no way restricted the media from broadcasting women’s songs.
“Local media should also keep the province’s culture in mind,” Samim Khapalwak said.
Freedom of speech has been a hard-won achievement in Afghanistan over the past 15 years.
“No governmental or non-governmental organisation has the right to interfere in publication or broadcasting policies of media organisations,” said Nai, an organisation supporting open media in Afghanistan.
Nai said that by implementing this ban, the authorities in Kandahar were illegally putting pressure on free media.
Kandahar is religiously and culturally conservative; women’s appearance on the public airwaves is frowned upon. (dpa/NAN)