In a sweeping new directive, Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has ordered that only designated spokespeople are authorized to issue statements on behalf of the group.
According to the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency, Akhundzada’s decree stipulates that only the central spokesperson and approved representatives from Taliban ministries and agencies are permitted to make official comments.
Issued on August 26, the decree mandates that spokespeople must obtain approval from relevant department officials before releasing any content. Additionally, Akhundzada has barred spokespeople from commenting on political matters where the Taliban’s position is not explicitly defined, allowing only statements issued by his office to be released.
This directive marks the first time Akhundzada has explicitly restricted officials from discussing political issues. The move underscores the Taliban’s broader strategy to tightly control both internal and external communications amid ongoing scrutiny and challenges.
From their spiritual base in Kandahar, the group’s reclusive supreme leader wields significant authority over political, military, judicial, and religious matters.
Since returning to power, the Taliban has imposed extensive restrictions on media and free speech, effectively stifling criticism and dissent.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture has introduced broad and vague media regulations, severely limiting critical coverage of the group. These regulations prohibit media from publishing or broadcasting content that “contradicts Islam,” “insults national figures,” or “distorts news.” Media outlets are also required to submit “detailed reports” to the new regulatory body before publication.
According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center, many Taliban spokespeople either delay responding to media inquiries or refuse to engage with journalists entirely.
The Taliban has issued at least 17 media directives, including bans on women working in state media, prohibitions on covering protests, restrictions on news coverage, and a ban on collaborating with exiled media outlets.
The regime’s crackdown on media has led to the closure of over half of the country’s media outlets, including TV and radio stations. Many journalists have either fled the country or gone into hiding for fear of reprisals.
Over the past year, media watchdogs have documented 136 incidents of violations against media freedom and journalists under Taliban rule, including 72 threats and 64 arrests.
The robust freedom of the press and expression achieved during the Western-backed republican government’s two-decade tenure in Afghanistan has significantly eroded since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. The future of a free press in the country now hangs in the balance.
