Kabul: Afghanistan's culture ministry said today it had referred two television stations for prosecution after they ignored deadlines to drop Indian soap operas it says violate Islamic morals.

Tolo and Afghan TV had ignored a government demand to pull the soaps among the most popular shows in Afghanistan by April 29,the ministry said in a statement, announcing the matter had been referred to the attorney general.

Two other TV stations have already bowed to the ministry's ultimatum, which it extended twice and says was issued after complaints from Muslim clerics and the public that the shows contradict Islamic values.

"Tolo has not stopped the broadcast of the said series by the set date and Afghan TV, despite repeated telephone contacts, has not officially assured they would stop its series," the ministry said in a statement. The attorney general's office is expected to refer the cases to court.

The modern Tolo channel has steadfastly refused to pull its hit soaps "Tulsi," an enormously popular drama nicknamed after its central character, and "Kasauti Zindagi Kay" (Tests of Life). It has threatened to take legal action of its own, alleging the government order is a violation of constitutionally guaranteed rights to media freedom.

Afghan TV is under pressure over an Indian drama of Aladdin-like tales called "Thief of Baghdad."

The tussle over Indian serials and other government complaints about the media have raised alarm among some of Afghanistan's mostly Western donors which are pushing the country towards democracy.

The media boom is seen as one of the successes of the country since the 2001 fall of the extremist Taliban regime, which banned television.

Source : PTI