KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Afghanistan Journalist Center (AFJC) reports that the Taliban have detained three local journalists in eastern Khost province on charges related to the publication of music and communication with female listeners.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 24, AFJC said that Ismail Sadat from Naz Radio, Vahidullah Masoom from Iqra Radio, and Ehsanullah Tasal from Wolas Ghag Radio were summoned and arrested on Monday, April 21.
Citing its sources, AFJC stated that the Taliban’s Department of Virtue and Vice in the province initially invited the heads of these three radio stations under the pretext of participating in a joint meeting. However, when the reporters attended the meeting on their behalf, they were immediately arrested.
The media watchdog condemned and demanded their immediate and unconditional release, as well as the cancellation of directives that severely restrict media freedom in the country.
According to the AFJC statement, the Taliban department had previously communicated the issue via WhatsApp, saying that “media were advised multiple times not to include background music in programs or to make phone calls in entertainment programs with women as it is forbidden.”
“Those who violated this order were sentenced to prison by the department and will be charged for not implementing the laws of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) and will be introduced to the court in the future,” part of the AFJC statement reads.
Following their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed extensive restrictions on media activities and journalists, frequently resorting to arrests, imprisonment, and instances of torture. AFJC says it has documented 168 incidents involving violations of journalists’ rights in the country in 2023, with 61 of them being arrests of journalists and media workers.
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.
Shortly after their return to power, the regime imposed a ban on the publication of music by media outlets in the country. In late February, Taliban police in Khost province imposed a prohibition on girls making phone calls to radios and TVs in the province, claiming it promotes moral corruption.
In its previous statement, AFJC quoted the Taliban police department in Khost as saying, “Girls are engaging in illegal phone calls with the presenters of these programs during official and unofficial hours, leading to moral corruption in society and violating Islamic values.”
However, AFJC says that controversy stems from the regime’s ban on women’s education. Since the ban, educational programs on media outlets have increased. “Local media officials in Khost argue that answering listeners’ questions and using background music in some programs is necessary to better promote educational content.”
According to the media watchdog, in addition to the state radio and TV, there are currently 15 radio stations and three private TVs operating in Khost province.
