New Speaker

From Saad Mohseni today: Raoof Ibrahimi, an ethnic Uzbek from Kunduz, becomes Afghanistan's Speaker (Lower House of Parliament)

Hanif Hangam

Hanif Hangam has now been shortlisted for a media award by the NCF. The scripts that he writes for this satirical political show, by which the population of Kabul is able to see what is going on in the city "Alarm Bell" is a show that lampoons Taliban rebels, warlords, UN diplomats and pilgrims to Mecca. He treads a narrow path with threats of being beaten up, it's amazing he's still alive!

News of what is going on in the UK about Afghanistan

We have a "Fashion Compassion" show run by Carole Naim, Fashion Compassion is a premium ethical fashion house, they will be launching their first collection of unique and handmade accessories crafted by women's artisans, based on Afghan designs.
It will be held at
Horne & Harvey,
23a St James's Street
London SW1A 1HA
Time: Thursday 18th November, 6pm - 9pm
Friday 19th November, 10am - 5pm
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The Media Nominations have selected one very brave Afghan man as a nominee who will always say there are others in his show, but the show is presented by Hanif Hangam. It is incredible that he has survived the many times of being beatened up and threatened. The Afghans are glued to their sets every Weds night and it is a satirical look at what is going on in the country it is the only means they have on finding out.
About the show Hanif says with pride "I made something out of nothing" The Afghans appreciate what he is doing.
it is a satirical look at what is going on in the country the only way they find out!!!

Karzai Admits Cash Payments

The Karzai administration in Afghanistan has confirmed reports that they have been accepting cash donations from Iran amongst other countries but strongly denies links to corruption.

Last week the New York Times reported that Iran had been handing bags full of cash, largely denominated in Euros , to Karzai's aides for the past couple of years. The Times' journalists said that the money was used in order to buy influence in Kabul and to strengthen Iranian presence there. But President Hamid Karzai said that many countries, including the US, gave money in this way and it was all part of a "transparent" process.

Doubts remain however as to, transparent or not, this is a source of funding that should be endorsed. The whole process of handing over bags of cash, in Iran's case hundreds of thousands or millions of euro's once or twice every year, seems to be an effort to work outside the framework for aid that is in place for the government. As more and more about the story comes out it appears the main reason for doing so is that Karzai and his administration could then used the money for personal use rather than public.

The fact that there is corruption in Afghanistan probably comes as no surprise to anybody but the way it occurs and the source of the funding is another issue entirely.

Two Afghan Nominees for the International Media Awards

Hanif Hangam

Hanif Hangam is a writer and comedian who puts his life on the line with every show that is aired. He is most famous (or infamous) for his starring role in the prime-time weekly satire ‘Alarm Bell’, a show that lampoons Taliban rebels, warlords, UN diplomats, pilgrims to Mecca, and petrol pump attendants. Despite complaints and threats after every broadcast, the producers, and Hangam, maintain that ‘Alarm Bell’ is crucial for the political health of the country.

In 2006 Hangam was forced to flee Afghanistan after a film in which he starred, ‘Kabul Express’, cause offence to many in the country – particularly the Hazara community.

To see an Al-Jazeera report on the phenomenon of ‘Alarm Bell’:

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/asia/2010/09/201091723517107879.html

Saad Mohseni

Saad Mohseni is an Afghan-Australian, who along with his brothers Zaid and Jahid and sister Wajma, set up Moby Group, Afghanistan’s largest media company, in 2002. Prior to establishing Moby, Mr. Mohseni was the head of the equities and corporate finance division of an Australian investment bank.

Moby’s interests include Tolo TV, Afghanistan’s most-watched television channel. Tolo TV is best known in the West for ‘Afghan Star’; the series that followed the pop idol talent-show format, and gave many Afghans their first taste of democracy via a mobile-phone voting system.

Despite its relatively short lifespan, Moby Group has developed a reputation for quality productions which address issues facing ordinary Afghans, including The Kite Runner (in collaboration with Dreamworks and Paramount Vantage) and the drama series Raaz Hai En Khana (“The Secrets of This House”). These both explore issues of family, tradition and change within the context of contemporary Afghanistan. (Held from 2009)

Succeeding in Afghanistan?

The Henry Jackson Society has put out a positive report on Afghanistan:
http://henryjacksonsociety.org/cms/harriercollectionitems/Succeeding%20in%20Afghanistan.pdf

I wish I could share their optimism. And with regard to Afghanistan: When will journalists use normal terminology - calling a spade a spade? Not that their report is culpable at that level. But sending reinforcements is not "a surge" and an increase in violence is not "a spike". I heard the great polemiscist Robert Fisk saying as much yesterday in Old Chelsea Town Hall. Not that I agree with him on much but on this he and I are one.

We have lost control of the border Afpak area and are swiftly losing control of the entire country. Minister of Defence Wardak cannot even visit his own province. Things aren't good.

The Last Jew in Afghanistan

One man, living alone in a small room next to a crumbling synagogue is the only remaining Jew in Afghanistan. He is the last of 4,000 and a thriving community that has been decimated by years of war and oppression. Zabolon Simantov believes that he has to keep the Jewish history in Afghanistan alive:

"I don't want my Jewish heritage erased. My father was a rabbi, my grandfather was a rabbi. We were a big, religious family. I feel like the lion of Afghanistan, nobody can touch me."

But Zabolon has faced a fair amount of persecution at the hands of fundamentalists and radicals, who constantly pressure him to convert.

"They are dumb. For me, that kind of talk is like a matchstick you use to light a cigarette. You throw it away without a second thought," he says.
However, he is doubtful that any Jews will return to Afghanistan and, if he leaves, hundreds of years of tradition will no longer have a representative.