Unhappy clerics target Afghanistan’s ‘American Idol’
By KABUL: The TV studio was full of young men in their mid20s, most wearing trim beards, stylish haircuts and jeans – the uniform of Afghanistan’s new generation. In a country ravaged by war and hardship, they are dreaming of stardom.
Their path to fame is “Afghan Star,” a wildly popular primetime show that has become the voice of their generation: Afghans born in an era of religious conflict and raised in a conservative Muslim society, but exposed to Western culture and eager to join the modern world.
“Music has always been in the blood of Afghans, but it was silenced for a long time,” said Massood Sanjer, programme manager for Tolo Television and a founder of the show, in its 13th season. “‘Afghan Star’ has created a revolution in music at the same time the country has moved to democracy.”
But not everyone is thrilled by the show’s success or message – especially the exposure of young women as performers on national TV. To some conservative Muslim clergy and elders, “Afghan Star” represents a threat to the country’s religion and values, and is part of what they see as a broader cultural trend of abusing democratic freedoms to promote vulgarity.
In the past month, public protests against the show have been held in Kabul and Herat, a large city near the border with Iran.
In Kabul, a group of clerics and Muslim scholars rallied last week at a large mosque and unsuccessfully petitioned the government to stop the show.
“We respect the media and appreciate their work. It is a big achievement for our country,” said Abdul Basit Khalili, a religious scholar at the rally. “But some media run programmes that are not sound, and one of them is ‘Afghan Star.’ It seduces the youth and pushes the country into a deeper crisis. We want programmes that teach science and technology, not ones that deviate them from the right track.”
Afghan television has become a lightning rod for attack, with denunciations of female newscasters wearing scarves that fail to cover all their hair, and of foreign soap operas and movies that depict women in alluring dress, performing sensual dances, or entangled in illicit affairs.
During an evening of auditions in Kabul this week, one nervous young man sang a melodic Sufi poem in Afghan Dari, accompanied by musicians playing the harmonium and drums. Another young man performed a more confident, amusing song but was slightly off-key. A panel of judges commented after each act.
Several contestants waiting their turn to go on stage said they thought the criticism of “Afghan Star” was misplaced and that the country faces far more important issues of concern. All said they were excited about performing and that they did not see how it conflicted with their faith.
“We have a lot of serious problems, like bombings and kidnappings. If the mullahs were demonstrating against them, I’d be at the front of the line,” said Usman Jaheri, 24, a contestant from Herat. “I love music because it expresses emotions. This show should be at the bottom of their list.” — Washington Post.