KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Arezo TV, a private media outlet in Kabul, has resumed operations after being forcibly closed by the Taliban last December, a media watchdog has confirmed.
In a statement, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) welcomed the reopening of the station but condemned its three-month closure as a clear violation of media freedom, saying it should never have happened.
Taliban intelligence agents raided Arezo TV’s office in Kabul on December 4, 2024, reportedly insulting staff, seizing equipment, sealing the premises, and detaining seven employees, including the station’s director and administrative manager. The detainees were released days later after providing written guarantees not to leave Kabul and agreeing to appear before the Taliban court if summoned.
The Taliban accused the station of broadcasting content “inconsistent with Islamic principles and Afghan traditions” and claimed it was supported by foreign and exiled media—allegations the outlet and media watchdogs have rejected. According to AFJC, Arezo TV broadcasts only news, “wildlife documentaries,” and “Islamic series” dubbed from Turkish into Persian.
AFJC quoted the head of Arezo TV confirming its reopening after a Taliban court declared the station’s employees innocent and allowed it to resume operations.
Several media watchdogs, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and AFJC, previously condemned the Taliban’s shutdown of the station, calling for an end to media suppression. According to RSF, in addition to Arezo TV, the Taliban shutdown at least 11 other media outlets—10 TV stations and one radio station—across Afghanistan in 2024. While four have resumed operations, the rest remain closed.
Despite pledging to uphold press freedom after returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on journalists and media outlets, frequently shutting down those that criticize the regime.
The Taliban’s crackdown has led to the closure of more than half of Afghanistan’s media outlets, including state-run TV stations. The Afghanistan Journalists’ Support Organization (AJSO) reported last year that only 13 of the country’s 91 print newspapers, 68 of 248 TV channels, and 211 of 438 radio stations are still operating. The rest have either shutdown or moved abroad.
