Afghanistan bans Kite Runner
Tuesday, 15 Jan 2008 14:52
The Kite Runner banned in Afghanistan over fears it could incite violence.
The import and exhibition of Afghan-set drama The Kite Runner has been banned in its homeland over fears it could incite violence.
The Paramount Pictures release, an adaptation of Afghan-American writer Khaled Hosseini's 2003 bestselling novel, features a rape scene involving individuals from rival tribes and has led to fears of ethnic unrest.
In a pivotal scene in the film, Amir, a wealthy member of the Pashtun tribe, (played by 11-year-old Zekeria Ebrahimi) fails to intervene when Hassan, a comparatively poor member of the Hazara tribe (played by 13-year-old Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada), is raped by a Pashtun man.
Four young stars of the film were shipped out of Afghanistan last month to protect them from potential retribution concerning the scene which has been labelled anti-Islamic and inflammatory by protesters.
"On the basis of the instruction of the information and culture ministry, the Kite Runner film's depiction and import has been banned," Latif Ahmadi, the head of state-run Afghan Film told the Reuters news agency yesterday
"Because some of its scenes are questionable and unacceptable for some people and would cause sensitiveness and would cause trouble for the government and people," he explained.
Author Hosseini recently applauded the decision to relocate the boys, telling the San Francisco Chronicle: "Afghanistan has become a pretty violent place.
"If the boys and their families think there is a reasonable risk of threat to them, then you have to take all of the steps that you can to make sure they are OK."