KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Afghanistan Journalist Center (AFJC) reports that at least 12 television stations in Afghanistan have been shut down this year, either by direct orders from Taliban authorities or due to their media restrictions.
In a statement on World Television Day, November 21, the AFJC highlighted concerning developments regarding media freedom in Afghanistan, particularly affecting TV stations.
“In a concerning trend, at least 12 television stations have been closed within this year due to direct orders from Taliban officials or as a result of escalating restrictions,” the AFJC said.
World Television Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1996 to recognize the role of television in promoting peace, social programs, and cultural exchange. The day was widely celebrated by Afghanistan’s previous government and media organizations in the country.
Since returning to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban, despite previously acknowledging the Afghanistan Media Law, which prohibits interference with press activities, has issued at least 21 directives that significantly restricted press freedom in the country.
The Taliban’s media restrictions have led to the closure of more than half of Afghanistan’s once-thriving free media. According to a March report by the Afghanistan Journalist’s Support Organization (AJSO), a German-based media watchdog, only 68 out of 248 TV stations remain active. Similarly, of the 438 radio stations operating under the previous government, only 211 are still active, and out of 91 print newspapers, only 13 remain operational. The rest, AJSO says, have either closed or relocated abroad.
The Taliban’s newly enacted so-called “morality law,” which bans the broadcast of images of living beings, has worsened the situation, leading to the closure of many TV stations, including state-run channels, in the country in recent weeks.
In its statement, AFJC urged the Taliban authorities to recognize the importance of free media by rescinding these extralegal directives, which have led to widespread media closures and severely hindered journalistic activities.
“We urge the Taliban to adhere to the Afghan Media Law and to foster an environment where media can operate freely, responsibly, and without fear of reprisal,” part of the statement reads.
The media watchdog urged the international community to advocate for media freedom in Afghanistan and support the efforts of television stations in line with the principles outlined in the Afghanistan Media Law.
