KABUL, September 15, 2010
The official Media Violations Commission has submitted a request to the Office of Attorney General in Kabul to ban Saqi TV a privately run local channel in Herat and benwa.com website for violating the media law.
Zarialai Nawabi, spokesman of the ministry of information and culture, told CJA the commission in its regular monthly meeting made the request based on complaints it received about the two media outlets.
Saqi TV was found 'disrupting public order and inciting riots' while benawa.com a Pashto news and Op-Ed website was found by the commission spreading lies with publishing of a false news story about death of Vice-President Qasim Fahim, Zarialai said.
He added Saqi TV call for public rallies and rituals to mark giving up of an American bishop the decision to burn Quran in the United States resulted in mobs in Herat city.
“The commission also found that benawa.com was publishing misleading information and false news about Vice-President Qasim Fahim's demise in an attempt to disrupt public opinions,” said Nawabi.
The request will be reviewed by the Office of Attorney General whose ruling will be immediately enacted.