Photo: AFJC

Taliban’s Ban on Living Being Images Forces Takhar TV Stations to Halt Operations

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local television stations in Takhar province have halted broadcasts following the Taliban’s recent ban on images of living beings, according to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC).

The Taliban-controlled Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) ceased its operations under the new restrictions, with two private stations, Mah-e-No and Reyhan, following suit, the media watchdog said in a statement on Monday.

Habibullah Hanafi, head of the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Takhar, held a meeting with local media representatives on Sunday, emphasizing the strict enforcement of the ban.

AFJC expressed deep concern over the recent ban, urging Taliban authorities to reconsider their “regressive” decision.

This new regulation is part of a wider pattern by the Taliban to suppress media freedoms across Afghanistan. Similar prohibitions on photography and video recording have already been enforced in provinces such as Kandahar, Helmand, and Maidan Wardak, with plans for gradual rollout in other regions.

Last month, the Taliban announced new directives banning live broadcasts of political programs and restricting guest invitations to those pre-approved by authorities.

Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban has implemented severe restrictions on Afghanistan’s media sector, despite previously acknowledging the Afghanistan Media Law, which prohibits interference with press activities. The regime has issued over 20 directives curbing media freedom, leading to the closure of more than half of the country’s media outlets.

Journalists face increasing pressure, with many fleeing the country or going into hiding. Female journalists face even greater limitations, including workplace segregation and bans on broadcasting women’s voices in several provinces.

The Taliban’s media crackdown has been compounded by a “news morality” law introduced in August, which authorizes morality police to oversee media content, banning anything deemed contrary to Sharia law.