Say what you want about American Idol and the rip offs on other networks, but maybe it can help bring some much-needed change.

‘Idol’ airs Afghans’ talents – and social divisions

Kabul, Afghanistan - As millions prepare to cast their ballots Friday in this country’s version of “American Idol,” known here as “Afghan Star,” Fatima Hashemi is still lamenting the loss of her favorite contestant.

I wonder if they have their version of Simon, and if the Afghan versions of Randy and Paula are just as useless?

“I voted for Lima because she is a woman,” she says, referring to Lima Sahar, who was eliminated last week but made headlines by lasting longer than any other female contestant in the program’s three-year history. “I tried to convince my friends to vote, too.”

The wildly popular show has sparked discussions nationwide about gender and ethnic identity, which observers say mirror debates that mark Afghan society in the post-Taliban era.

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Not everyone is thrilled with the show’s success. “I condemn this program – Islam does not allow it,” says Shamsal Rahman Frotan, associated with the Ulema Council, an influential religious body. “The Koran says that a woman should not even recite prayers with a loud voice.”

More evidence that religion is the human race’s worst invention.

The conservative backlash surrounding Sahar signals how much the condition of women still needs improvement, experts say. “This is still a male-dominated country,” says analyst Sweeta Noori. “They don’t want Lima to be a star because they don’t want to see women improve.”

Yeah, they might actually have to be treated as humans rather than objects. Can’t have that now, can we?

Even though Sahar could croon away on TV, most women rarely venture outside their homes. Aid agencies recently reported that violence against women almost doubled last year in Kabul, and reports of self-immolation, forced marriages, and rape remain common.

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But for a few like Hashemi, a Tajik, “Afghan Star” symbolizes hope. “Lima’s ethnic background doesn’t matter to me,” she says. “What matters is what she represents. She is an inspiration.”

Keep up the good work. And try not to get yourself raped and killed by the religious fanatics who want to keep your nation locked in the 12th century.

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