| 30th July |
Afghan TV station Shut Down... |
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Highly hazardous to the government's rule
Permalink |
Based on
article
from zamaaneh.com
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Afghanistan
Council of Ministers shut down the private television network Emrooz charging it
with fomenting religious differences and disrupting national unity.
An announcement issued by the office of the president states that the
continued activity of this television network was highly hazardous to
the government's rule and therefore the Ministry of Intelligence and
Culture was charged to immediately shut them down.
Najibollah Kabuli, member of Afghanistan's parliament and head of
Emrooz television condemned the move saying that this action is a result
of pressure from Shiite religious leaders and his own opposition to
Iranian policies.
In the past months, a number of demonstrations were staged in several
cities of Afghanistan to protest the alleged execution of tens of Afghan
nationals in Iran. The demonstrators expressed severe anti-Iran
positions in the course of the demonstrations condemning Iranian leaders
and burning images of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khamenei.
Reportedly, Najibollah Kabuli was the organizer of the Kabul
demonstrations and he also participated in the event.
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| 28th July |
Corruption on the Moral High Ground... |
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Indian film censor arrested after taking bribe to pass film
Permalink |
Always one of the flaws about censorship is that having decided that
people are not morally fit to make their own viewing decision, then a
censor has to be appointed who is supposedly somehow more morally
advanced. When in reality the censors are just people with exactly the
same mix of moralities as the people they are censoring. There's just
less of them with more power. And you know how power corrupts.
Based on
article
from asiantribune.com
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A
Regional Officer in India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which
certifies new films, was caught red-handed by the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI), while he collected a bribe for issuing a film
certification.
The CBI officials arrested Mr Rajasekar while he was accepting bribe
amount of Rs 10,000 from a film producer in his office at Shastri Bhavan,
Chennai.
CBI officials have not disclosed anything about the documents,
materials and cash recovered from Rajasekar so far. The CBI have also
refused to identify the producer who gave the bribe nor the name of the
film involved.
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| 26th July |
Explosive Comedy... |
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Bin Laden comedy film banned in Pakistan
Permalink |
16th July 2010. Based on
article
from koolmuzone.com
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The
High Court of Pakistan has banned the release of the much awaited film Tere
Bin Laden aka Tere Bin which deals with a bold edgy subject and
problems post 9/11.
Previously on the order of Censor Board, the name Laden was dropped from
Tere Bin Laden in Pakistan as a precautionary measure and now considering
the kind of tensions surrounding Pakistan, the release of the film in Pakistan
has been banned. The Board claimed that the film supports Osama Bin Laden and
terrorism by making the comedy film.
According to newspapers across the border in India, the makers of the
film have also received an anonymous letter threatening them with dire
consequences if it is released. But according to the makers, the letter
was not from Al-Qaeda, because it accuses the makers of supporting Osama
Bin Laden and terrorism, making one smell the Shiv Sena rat.
The makers of Tere Bin Laden were also releasing the film
globally, except U.S.A. because the American distributor of the film
felt that Tere Bin Laden has the potential to go beyond the
Indian diaspora. Due to its ban in Pakistan, the film will now open only
in places like UK, India and Australia and other international
territories. Other releases are to follow after the makers study the
business in various markets in its first round.
Update:
Appeal
26th July 2010. Based on
article
from thaindian.com
Film exhibitors as well as the distributors from Karachi have gone
ahead and filed a petition with the Pakistani Censor Board so that the
Indian film Tere Bin Laden can be released in Pakistan.
The movie is banned all over Pakistan for panic of terrorist attacks.
The film, was released in India on the July 16. This movie also
debuts Pakistani pop star Ali Zafar. He enacts the role of as an
over-ambitious TV reporter, who uses the lookalike of the Al Qaeda chief
Osama so as to get into USA.
Nadeem Mandviwalla, official distributor of movies in Pakistan says
that they have filed an appeal with the Appellant Board of the Censor
Board; however the Appellant Board of the Censor Board has withheld its
decision till the next week.
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| 24th July |
Blocked Thinking... |
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India considers internet censorship
Permalink full story: Internet Blocking in India...India considers blanket ban on internet porn |
Based on
article
from indianexpress.com
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India
is considering drafting a new law to ban pornographic websites.
Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe announced: We are thinking
of introducing an act to ban pornographic websites. We will also request
the Central government to amend the existing laws to make them more
stringent.
He also police teams have begun patrolling cyber cafés to monitor
downloading activities.
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| 18th July |
Cooling Down... |
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Indian film censors unban Flames of the Snow
Permalink full story: Flames of the Snow...India bans political film about struggles in Nepal |
Based on
article
from thefinancialexpress-bd.com
|
After
refusing the certificate for public screening to a documentary film on Nepal,
Flames of the Snow, on the ground that it justifies ideology of the Maoist
movement, the Central Board of Film Certification Board (CBFC), has finally
given a U/A certificate to the film, produced by a Delhi-based journalist, Anand
Swaroop Verma.
Verma, who is an expert on Nepal affairs and was a member of team of
international observers to monitor all elections in the country in
recent past, told the news agency that the revising committee members of
the Board along with chief censor Sharmila Tagore watched the film last
week, talked to him on its content and asked to give a disclaimer to
clear the film.
Quoting a letter from Delhi regional office of the CBFC, Verma said
the disclaimer now said, The substance of the documentary has been
compiled from various media publications and views expressed are of the
individuals interviewed. It is not the intention of this documentary to
offend the sensibilities/sentiments of any country or individual.
The SBFC had earlier refused to give certification to it by saying
The 125 minute long , Flames of the Snow, tells about the Maoist
movement in Nepal and justifies its ideology and keeping in view the
recent Maoist violence in some parts of the country, the permission of
its public screening can not be given'.
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| 18th July |
Conflict Hardened...Not... |
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Locals of the most dangerous place in the world are sensitive to a few critical words
Permalink |
5th July 2010. Based on
article
from hindustantimes.com
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As
violence in Kashmir escalates, Bollywood offers a story of violence in the
region. Lamhaa, which stars Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu, will hit
theaters on July 16.
The film has already fallen foul with the censors and people of the
state. The Central Board of Film Certification who reportedly objected
to Kashmir being described in the trailers as the most dangerous
place in the world, forcing its director Rahul Dholakia to make some
cuts.
During the shoots, locals forced the crew to re-do a scene, as they
were upset at the depiction of their homeland.
Update:
Banned in Gulf States
18th July 2010. Based on
article
from filmyfair.com
Lamhaa is not going to be screened in Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, in and Oman
as the UAE Natioanl Media Council Censorship Board felt that the content
of the movie is highly objectionable and controversial.
The Indian censor board has already passed the film with an A
certificate after 'correcting' two dialogues in the film.
Director Rahul DholakiaDholakia felt the action from UAE on this as
outrageous.
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| 16th July |
Government TV Censor... |
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India reframes its proposal to set up a national TV censor
Permalink full story: TV Censorship in India...India considers the regulation of TV for adults |
Based on
article
from timesofindia.indiatimes.com
|
In
an attempt to control news channels, the Indian government has proposed setting
up of a government appointed committee - the National Broadcast Authority of
India - that will have the power to screen programmes or advertisements before
broadcast, and formulate the content code.
The committee will have all the powers that were part of the
controversial Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2007, which had to
be shelved because of fears that it would have led to censorship.
The I&B ministry's new draft envisages a three-tiered redressal
structure with the initial two tiers of content monitoring being that of
self-regulation. Grievances or complaints that are not settled by the
channel itself or by the industry association (at the second level) will
then go to the NBAI. The NBAI will be the final authority for all issues
related to content and carriage.
While the oversight-of-last resort arrangement is clearly
meant to ward off criticism that government wants to control content,
this by itself may not assuage the concerns of censorship.
The ministry's task force report gives the NBAI the power to
authorise officers to block news content if public tranquility is
disturbed. It also suggests that the government retain powers to
intervene in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of the country.
The NBAI will, according to the draft, comprise one representative of
the media, while the other six members will include eminent persons
with 15 years of experience from fields of law, public administration,
finance, IT and social work.
News broadcasters expressed fears that the NBAI will be filled with
retired bureaucrats or otherwise pliable civil society members as
is the practice in nearly all regulatory authorities. The lone
representative of media may find it difficult to put across his
viewpoint.
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| 13th July |
Yeah Yeah... |
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New Sri Lankan film censor spouts the usual piffle
Permalink |
Based on
article
from dailymirror.lk
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Journalist
Gamini Sumanasekara who was recently appointed as the Chairman of the Censor
Board claimed the censor board had a bigger role to play rather than simply
censoring movies.
The Censor Board basically generally categorizes films under three
levels - The U certificate open for all sections in society, the X label
for adults only films and movies that are more suitable for adults. Even
in the West there are censor boards to monitor and categorize films,
said Sumanasekara who has been involved as a Censor Board member for at
least eight years under different heads.
Besides films screened in the country, scripts of stage plays and
indoor musical shows including the songs due to be sung, have to be
sanctioned by the Censor Board.
Our main concern is upholding our ethics and
cultural values. There is a difference between our culture and those in
the west. It starts from the family. For example we do not address our
elders by name but it's different in those countries. We don't endorse
excessive doses of violence in our movies and the same applies to sex
too. But it also depends on the theme. We will have to establish whether
sex is being forced into the creation in a subtle manner. It's our
responsibility to ensure that creations that are screened do not carry
harmful parts that influence or create any discord among any ethnic
groups in this country, or violates basic norms in society, or any
matter that would distort the minds of children. But at the same time we
should remember that young directors may come up with novel ideas or
even radical creations. We can't decide whether they are completely
undesirable. Deepa Mehta's Fire was a good example. Though India
banned the film we okayed it, said Sumanasekara insisting that
they were able to act independently.
The Mahinda Chinthana policies have been
endorsed by the people. There are clear-cut guidelines in the Mahinda
Chinthana policies about arts and culture and we work within such a
frame. I am grateful to Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister
Pavithra Wanniarachchi for appointing a multi-faceted team comprising
professionals from diverse fields under the guidance of President
Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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| 4th July |
Banned Victims of Government Attacks... |
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Pakistan proposes catch-all law to jail those criticising the state
Permalink |
Based on
article
from guardian.co.uk
|
Pakistan
is considering a controversial new law that would restrict media coverage of
suicide bombings and could be used to quell criticism of the government and army
on the country's private television networks.
Under the proposed changes, TV journalists could be jailed for up to
three years for broadcasting anything defamatory against the organs
of the state.
The latest twist to the proposed law, known as the Pakistan
Electronic Media Regulatory Authority bill, drew an angry response from
media groups.
Anyone with something to hide will be happy to root for this bill,
said Talat Hussain, one of the country's most prominent television
anchors. Those in power have a lot to gain from it.
The proposed restrictions would prevent the media from airing video
footage of suicide bombers, the bodies of victims of militant attacks,
statements from extremist leaders and any acts that promote, aid or
abet terrorists or terrorism.
Live coverage of militant assaults would be banned as would
anything defamatory against the organs of the state – a sweeping
provision that could be interpreted to include most government
activities.
Offenders would be liable to sentences of up to three years in jail
and fines of up to 10m rupees (£80,000).
Separately, Dawn newspaper reported that military officials have come
up with their own proposed restrictions, including a requirement that
all security-related stories should be cleared with the military press
office.
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