Afghanistan bans taking photographs of living animals.
Islamabad: India’s neighboring country Afghanistan is in the news due to one of its strange decisions. Afghanistan has banned taking photographs of living animals. The matter is related to Helmand province of Afghanistan. Where Helmand province has banned showing photos of living creatures in the media to ensure compliance with the Taliban’s ethics laws. The decision was announced by information ministry officials in Helmand. It is the latest province to impose controls on videography and photography of humans and animals.
In August the country’s Ministry of Morals published laws regulating aspects of everyday life such as public transport, shaving, media and celebrations, reflecting the authorities’ interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia. Article 17 prohibits the publication of photographs of living beings. Helmand officials said videography and photography of living creatures would be stopped immediately. He did not provide any further information about the implementation of the law or its exemptions. Last week, Taliban-run media stopped showing photos of the living creatures in Takhar, Maidan Wardak and Kandahar provinces in compliance with the law.
Private channels started following the rules
Some private channels have also stopped showing pictures and videos of living creatures to ensure compliance with the law. No Muslim-majority country, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, imposes such restrictions. During their previous rule in the late 1990s, the Taliban completely banned most television, radio and newspapers. On Thursday, the Information Ministry announced it had banned 400 books that are contrary to Islamic and Afghan values. Banned books have been collected from shops and publishing houses and religious texts including the Quran have been replaced in their place. (AP)