KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban in Kabul have arrested two people accused of translating and dubbing Western television series, the group’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced Sunday.
Ministry spokesman Saif‑ul‑Islam Khyber wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the two were detained for “promoting Western thought and culture” through their dubbing work. He also claimed they had connections with foreign media organizations and received financial support from them.
Khyber identified the men as Naveed Asghari, a resident of Kabul’s District 4 originally from Chendawol, and Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Kabul’s District 15 originally from Nijrab district in Kapisa province.
He said the two were arrested after “complete and credible investigations.” Their exact circumstances in custody were not disclosed, and details of how they were detained remain unclear.
The ministry has previously targeted media workers. In 2023, it detained employees of a Kabul‑based production house known as Nema Media, accusing them of creating content that “violated Islamic principles.” In other incidents, journalists have been held for reporting on women’s protests, sharing music videos or operating independent radio stations.
Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, they have imposed sweeping restrictions on media. The broadcasting of films and television series is banned nationwide, and live music, certain forms of entertainment and images deemed “un‑Islamic” are prohibited. Rights groups say dozens of Afghan journalists have been detained or beaten in the past three years, and several remain in custody without clear charges.
These arrests highlight the Taliban’s broader effort to control cultural production and limit outside influence as part of its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
