VANCOUVER, CANADA – The Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture has temporarily halted the broadcasts of two private television channels, ‘Noor’ and ‘Barya,’ citing violations of “journalistic principles and Islamic values.”
As reported by the Taliban-run Bakhtar News Agency on Tuesday, April 16, the Media Violations Commission, operating under the Ministry of Information and Culture, has decided during its meeting today to suspend the broadcasts of these television networks until a final decision is made by the Taliban court.
During a press conference, members of the commission cited “non-compliance with journalistic principles and national and Islamic values” as the reason for the suspension of broadcasts of these two private TV channels.
The National Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA), now under Taliban control, cited the Ministry of Information and Culture’s announcement, saying, “Despite numerous warnings and suggestions, Noor TV has failed to uphold journalistic standards, disregarded national and Islamic values, and displayed bias towards ethnic, linguistic, and partisan matters.”
Noor TV is affiliated with Jamayat-e-Islamic Afghanistan, a political party led by Salahuddin Rabbani, the former foreign minister of Afghanistan, who is Tajik by ethnicity. Mr. Rabbani is one of the political leaders who oppose the Taliban and currently lives abroad.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Barya TV is affiliated with Hezb-e Islami, a political party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who is currently residing in Kabul and has recently publicly criticized Taliban policies.
Upon reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban pledged to uphold freedom of the press. However, in practice, the regime has imposed significant restrictions on media activities and journalists, frequently shutting down media outlets that criticize the regime.
The Taliban’s imposition of media restrictions and pressure on journalists and media workers has resulted in the closure of over half of the country’s media outlets, TV stations, and radio stations.
Earlier this month, the Afghanistan Journalists’ Support Organization (AJSO), a German-based Afghan media watchdog, reported that following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, only 13 out of 91 print newspapers that were operational during the republic government, remain active.
Similarly, out of 248 TV channels, only 68 are still in operation, and out of 438 radio stations, 211 are currently active across 34 provinces of the country.
The remaining outlets either relocated outside the country or closed due to Taliban restrictions or financial challenges.
