By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL (Reuters) - When the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan in the 1980s, Sheikh Mohammad Asif Mohseni formed an Islamic force while in exile to fight alongside other holy warriors against the invaders.

But w"" >

 
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Oddly Enough
1:11PM EST, Sun 11 Feb 2007
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Afghan cleric takes Islamic battle to the airwaves

Thu Feb 8, 2007 9:00AM EST
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By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL (Reuters) - When the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan in the 1980s, Sheikh Mohammad Asif Mohseni formed an Islamic force while in exile to fight alongside other holy warriors against the invaders.

But when the communist-backed regime collapsed, the victorious Mujahideen groups began a bloody power struggle, sparking a civil war that killed tens of thousands and he found himself trying to play peacemaker.

Now, the 75-year-old, silver-bearded Mohseni has another mission; this time to save Afghanistan's deeply conservative Islamic society from corruption by alien cultures.

Mohseni is launching a semi-Islamic television channel which does not focus exclusively on Islamic teachings. It will be Afghanistan's first such channel.

Called Tamadon, or ""civilization"", the network will go on air in a few months. It is the latest in a string of private channels springing up since the Taliban government fell in 2001.

But while some, especially newly returned refugees, welcome the explosion of choice -- there's even a racy MTV-style channel broadcasting from the United States -- others complain the Indian and Western music and programs are vulgar.

""I want to take part in civilizing my Muslim people in the 21st century and the direction (Muslims now) follow has a deviated from its path,"" he said.  Continued...

 

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