Taliban bans IPL broadcast in Afghanistan over presence of women in stadiums

The Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has banned the broadcast of the hugely popular Indian Premier League (IPL) in the country over the presence of “female audience and spectators” in stadiums.

Ever since the Taliban’s takeover of the strife-torn country last month, the international sporting community has been concerned about the fundamentalist group’s position on women participating in sports.

Former Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) media manager and journalist M Ibrahim Momand said the live broadcast of IPL matches was banned due to possible “anti-Islamic” content.

“Afghanistan national (TV) will not broadcast the @IPL as usual as it was reportedly banned to live the matches resumed tonight due to possible anti-islam contents, girls dancing & the attendance of barred (sic) hair women in the (stadium) by Islamic Emirates of the Taliban,” Momand had tweeted on Sunday when the IPL action resumed.

Another journalist Fawad Aman, who has also served as the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence as per his Twitter handle, 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.”

Top Afghanistan cricketers like Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahman are taking part in IPL 2021.

The second phase of the IPL resumed in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday with a match between Chennai Super Kings and defending champions Mumbai Indians.

According to a media report, Afghanistan’s new sports chief last week said that the Taliban will allow 400 sports — but declined to say anything on women’s participation.

“Please don’t ask more questions about women,” he was quoted as saying.

During the extremist group’s regime from 1996 to 2001, women were banned from playing any sport.

After taking over the country last month, the group has stressed that women’s rights would be respected within the framework of Islam.

The knockout stage is scheduled to begin on October 10 with the final slated to be held on October 15. ( PTI )

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'Fear for Father & Brother Lives, They're Stuck in Kabul': Afghanistan Student

'Fear for Father & Brother Lives, They're Stuck in Kabul': Afghanistan Student

'I planned to go back to my country after finishing studies in India but now I don't know,' said Afghanistan student

My father and brother are at someone else’s house. And 60 women have taken refuge in our house. They are not related but got in touch with my father through friends.

Salma, Afghanistan National

An Afghanistan national and a student Salma (name changed) at a college in Delhi spoke to The Quint on the condition of anonymity. She managed to leave Kabul with her mother on 15 August. But she had to leave her father and brother behind because they did not have Indian visas.

Both her father and brother were government officials and now fear for their lives. They have taken refuge in someone else's house in Kabul.My father and brother are hiding in someone’s house. They are not alone, other men are with them. They sneak out and get food supplies. For my father and brother there is no way out of the country. Flights are shut. There is no rescue or commercial flights for government officials.

Though Salma and her mother managed to enter with an Indian visa, now they are waiting to get emergency visas to stay on in India.

We are in fear, because with the change in visa rules, it’s chaotic in India. Indian government said that Afghans who want to come to India, can apply for an emergency visa. It will be issued in 72 hours. But in the last 17 days not one person has got that visa. All previous visas have been cancelled. Only those with emergency visa can work in India.

Ever since Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, ill-treatment of women on streets has been in the news. Salma said that in reality the situation in Kabul is much worse.

Women are being beaten when they go for visa or paperwork to offices in Kabul. Women are being asked, ‘Why are you leaving your country and going to a non-Muslim country?’ My relatives say the Taliban is ill-treating women in parts of Kabul, sending them indoors.

'Looking For a Job In India For Survival'

Salma is living in a rented accommodation in Delhi with her mother but has no source of income. She is desperately looking for a job ever since she landed in Delhi but has not been able to find one.

She spoke about the tensed conditions in Kabul. She said that 60 women have taken refugee at her home. These women do not step out alone. Local male residents provide them food supplies.

Sixty women have taken refuge in our home. They are not related, but got in touch with my father through friends. No one would leave the comfort of their own home. So, yes they are running for their lives. They want to be safe. That’s why they are at our home. They have seen life under the Taliban when women were not allowed to go out for basic needs, nor go to school.

Salma, Afghanistan National

Ever since Taliban has taken over Afghanistan, ill-treatment of women on streets has been in the news. Salma said that in reality the situation in Kabul is much worse.

Women are being beaten when they go for visa or paperwork to offices in Kabul. Women are being asked, ‘Why are you leaving your country and going to a non-Muslim country?’ My relatives say the Taliban is ill-treating women in parts of Kabul, sending them indoors.

Salma, Afghanistan National

Speaking about her friends in Kabul, Salma said that their lives have come to a halt. Women do not see any future in Afghanistan, while males are still in a better condition because they are able to move out.

Salma wants to go back to Afghanistan in future and work for the country. But considering the current scenario, she does not know when will she be able to see her country again.

In the last 20 years Afghanistan had progressed. Women became doctors, pilots, and engineers. I worry about my future. I’ve studied and worked very hard for it. Now I don’t know if I will ever go back and work and build my nation.

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4 Killed In Blast At Pakistan Hotel Hosting Chinese Ambassador: Official.

"At least four people have been killed and 12 others were injured," Pakistan's interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told AFP, describing it as "an act of terrorism".

Quetta, Pakistan: 

At least four people were killed and a dozen others wounded when a bomb exploded at a top hotel hosting the Chinese ambassador in southwestern Pakistan, officials said late Wednesday.

The blast took place in the car park of the Serena -- a luxury hotel chain throughout Pakistan -- in the city of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province where the military has been fighting a decade-long low level insurgency.

"At least four people have been killed and 12 others were injured," Pakistan's interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told AFP, describing it as "an act of terrorism".

"A Chinese delegation of around four people led by the ambassador was lodging in the hotel.

"The ambassador was out for a meeting when the explosion took place," he added.

Balochistan is poor despite its natural resources -- a source of great anger to residents who complain they do not receive a fair share of the gas and mineral wealth.

Resentment has been fuelled by billions of dollars of Chinese money flowing into the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) -- a key part of China's Belt and Road Initiative -- which locals say gave them little benefit as most new jobs went to outsiders.

Azhar Ikram, a senior police official in the city, confirmed the deaths and said that the Chinese ambassador was staying at the hotel, but was not present at the time of the blast.

"Initial probe suggests it was an IED planted in one of the vehicles," Ikram said.

Source:NDTV.

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WHO Chief Calls Growth In Virus Cases ‘Worrying

Geneva- The head of the World Health Organisation said coronavirus cases are continuing to rise globally at worrying rates and noted that the number of new cases confirmed per week has nearly doubled during the past two months.

At a press briefing on Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of new cases is approaching the highest rate of infection that we have seen so far in the pandemic.

Tedros said some countries that had been able to avoid widespread COVID-19 outbreaks are now seeing steep increases, citing Papua New Guinea as an example.

Until the beginning of this year, Papua New Guinea had reported less than 900 cases and nine deaths, Tedros said.

The noted. The country has now identified more than 9,000 cases and 83 deaths, half of which were reported in the last month.

Papua New Guinea is a perfect example of why vaccine equity is so important, Tedros said, adding that the Pacific island nation has relied on vaccine donations from Australia and the UN-backed COVAX initiative.

To date, COVAX has shipped about 40 million vaccines to more than 100 countries, or enough to protect about 0.25 per cent of the world’s population.(AP)

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