9 months ago. Kabul, Afghanistan

Taliban bans IPL 2021 broadcast in Afghanistan over 'anti-Islam' content

Afghani media outlets have neem warned against broadcasting IPL
The reason being presence of female audiences and spectators inside the stadiums.
Afghani cricketers Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are featuring in the IPL

The Taliban has announced the imposition of a ban on the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Afghanistan. The reason cited behind the decision is the presence of female audiences and spectators in the stadiums.

Afghani media outlets have neem warned against broadcasting the popular cricket tournament which features top Afghani cricketers Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

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Journalist Fawad Aman tweeted his displeasure on the decision. He wrote, “Ridiculous: Taliban have banned the broadcasting of Indian Premier League (IPL) in Afghanistan. Taliban have warned that Afghan media outlets should not broadcast the Indian Cricket League due to girls dancing and the presence of female audience and spectators in stadiums.”

https://twitter.com/FawadAman2/status/1440194549234626561

While the Talibani government has repeatedly cited its promise of being a moderate regime, the decisions they have taken have not aligned well with their apparent ideology.

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Last week Afghanistan’s new sports chief Bashir Ahmad Rustamzai confirmed that the government will allow 400 sports. He told AFP, “We will not ban any sport unless it does not comply with sharia law… there is 400 type of sports allowed,”

When questioned about women’s participation as to whether or not they will be allowed to play any of the sports Rustamzai responded with a bleak statement, “Please don’t ask more questions about women,” as per AFP.

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In another spine-chilling statement Taliban spokesperson Sayed Zekrullah Hashimi told TOLO news, "A woman can't be a minister, it is like you put something on her neck that she can't carry. It is not necessary for women to be in the cabinet - they should give birth. Women protesters can't represent all women in Afghanistan".

It seems that at a time when the whole world is moving forward and acknowledging gender equality, the Taliban regime is turning a blind eye to change. During their previous regime between 1966 to 2001 women were banned from playing any sport. Their only role was considered to be giving birth to children.

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The Australian cricket board announced that they will not host the men’s Afghanistan cricket team if the Islamist government does not support women’s cricket.

Women’s rights activists all around the globe fear for the lives of Afghani women. Many have voiced their concerns on social media but that hasn’t done any good as the government continues to bring out discriminatory laws.

#Taliban #Afghanistan #IPL #IPL2021 #IndianPremierLeague #RashidKhan #MohammadNabi #AfghanistanCricketBoard

Taliban bans IPL 2021 broadcast in Afghanistan over 'anti-Islam' content

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