Over the last two years, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has meticulously documented a concerning trend: the Taliban has consistently and deliberately issued 13 directives. These directives have a clear and alarming objective — to systematically restrict media freedom and curtail access to vital information within the country.
To mark the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the AFJC issued a statement on Thursday, emphasizing the Taliban’s “disregard” for Afghanistan’s Access to Information Law.
Over the past two years, Afghanistan has witnessed a notable decline in media activities and an “unprecedented regression in the realm of access to information,” as stated by the organization. The Taliban’s directives, detailed in the Afghanistan Journalists Center’s
statement, encompassing various measures.
The first guideline issued by the Taliban is the prevention of women working in radio and television, such as the ban on female employees of the state-owned National Television in Kabul. Prohibiting media coverage of protests and civil demonstrations is another directive imposed by the Taliban on the media.
Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Interior swiftly imposed a ban on all forms of demonstrations, making it clear that any incidents resulting from these protests would be the responsibility of the violators.
Restrictions on access to information are among the other guidelines outlined by the Taliban. The Taliban’s media authority issued these regulations in 11 articles in September 2021.
Meanwhile, the group prohibiting the publication of content conflicting with Islam, insulting national figures, violating national and personal sanctities, and publishing reports under the supervision of the Taliban’s media centre are some rules imposed by the Taliban on the media.
Furthermore, compelling the recognition of the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan under the title of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” is another restriction imposed by the Taliban on the media. So far, no country has officially recognized this group.
The prohibition on broadcasting women’s voices in some cities is another restriction imposed by the Taliban. Based on this, the Taliban’s Information and Culture Department in Helmand warned that under no circumstances should women’s voices be broadcast.
The Taliban also deemed gender segregation in the media mandatory, requiring male and female hosts to appear in separate environments and with separate programs.
In addition to the above, the Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice declared it forbidden to hold interviews with opponents and critics of the Taliban in the media.
Based on this, the heads of four private television networks in Kabul, including Tolo News, 1TV, Ariana, and Shamshad, were summoned to the Taliban’s Information and Culture Department.
Broadcasting programs on international television channels in Afghanistan, including Voice of America, BBC, and Deutsche, have also been prohibited. The ban on working with “banned” media is another aspect highlighted by the Taliban.
Restrictions on publishing commercial advertisements with political, security, and social content are among other regulations imposed by the Taliban on the media.
The Afghan Journalists Center has raised concerns and pointed out that these restrictions have severely hampered media operations, causing an unprecedented setback.
