KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Bamyan say that the Taliban’s intelligence forces have suspended the broadcasts of “Radio Bamyan,” the first private media outlet in the province, and sealed its office.
According to the sources, Taliban intelligence forces raided the office of “Radio Bamyan” in the Shahr-e-Naw area of Bamyan on Sunday (May 17) and sealed it shut.
Local Taliban officials in Bamyan have not yet explained why the activities of this private media outlet were halted.
“Radio Bamyan” began its operations in 2003 on 89.7 FM in Bamyan province, located in central Afghanistan. It was the first private media outlet to become active in the province.
The radio station produced and broadcast a variety of news, cultural, artistic, economic, and political programs for its audience and had continued its activities even after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed widespread restrictions on the activities of journalists and media organizations.
The group has repeatedly raided media offices, halted their operations, and detained and imprisoned journalists and media workers.
Since the Taliban takeover, authorities have issued more than 20 directives regulating media activity, content approval, and access to information. These measures have contributed to the near-collapse of what was once a vibrant media sector, with dozens of outlets shut down or silenced and hundreds of journalists forced into exile or hiding.
Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index, placing it among the worst globally.
The protection of journalists and the preservation of access to truthful information are not only essential for safeguarding human rights but also for ensuring peace, accountability, and the functioning of any just society.
The closure of Radio Bamyan marks another troubling development for press freedom in Afghanistan, where independent media outlets continue to face mounting pressure, censorship, and intimidation under Taliban rule, raising serious concerns among rights advocates about the shrinking space for free expression and access to information across the country.
