KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Tamadon Private Television wrote on its official Facebook page that “unknown individuals, using cargo vehicles, are in the process of removing and transferring the equipment, assets, and property of this media outlet” from its headquarters in Kabul.
In a statement published this afternoon (Wednesday, 24 June), the outlet said that “until a final and binding ruling is issued by the competent court, any seizure, transfer, removal, or interference in the property and assets of this media organization lacks a legal basis and constitutes unlawful possession of another party’s property.”
Furthermore, Tamadon Television stated that the building also contains private residential units whose property and ownership rights must be respected and protected under the law.
The television network added that responsibility for ensuring the security and protection of its property, equipment, and building lies with the “respected security institutions and relevant authorities of the Emirate.”
Moreover, Tamadon Television stated that any damage, destruction, disappearance, unauthorized removal, or loss affecting the outlet’s assets or the personal belongings located in the building would be the legal responsibility of the relevant authorities.
The developments come a day after forces affiliated with the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice raided the headquarters of Tamadon Television in Kabul at around 12:20 p.m. and subsequently halted its broadcasts.
Later, Mohammad Jawad Mohseni, the head of Tamadon Television, said that the Taliban’s raid on the media outlet was linked to a case alleging that its building had been constructed on government land, despite the fact that the case had been referred to a special court, which has not yet issued a final ruling.
Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reacted to the suspension of Tamadon Television’s broadcasts in Kabul by calling on the Taliban to allow the outlet to resume its operations without interference.
In a statement issued on (Wednesday, 24 June), the committee said that following the raid, Taliban Ministry of Justice forces “insulted the staff, halted the network’s broadcasts, and shut down its offices.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists added that Tamadon Television is “one of the few remaining independent television networks in Afghanistan that also broadcasts religious programming for Shiite audiences under the Taliban’s ultra-conservative Sunni rule.”
Furthermore, the committee noted that the raid took place during the month of Muharram, one of the holiest periods in the Shiite religious calendar, and coincided with restrictions that the Taliban have imposed on Shiite religious activities.
“The closure of Tamadon TV and the degrading treatment of its staff mark an alarming escalation in the Taliban’s assault on Afghanistan’s independent media,” said CPJ’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Representative Waliullah Rahmani. “Taliban authorities must immediately allow Tamadon TV to resume broadcasting without interference and stop silencing news outlets with force on the pretext of unproven allegations.”
Tamadon TV, founded in 2006 in Kabul by the late Shiite cleric Sheikh Asif Mohseni, broadcasts news, religious programs, and cultural content. The station has previously faced restrictions and temporary shutdowns under Taliban rule over programming and ownership disputes.
Since the Taliban takeover, authorities have issued more than 20 directives regulating media activity, content approval, and access to information. Media watchdogs have reported increasing restrictions, detentions of journalists, and pressure on outlets, leading to a sharp decline in press freedom.
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 incident has drawn renewed attention to concerns about press freedom and media independence in Afghanistan. Media rights organizations have repeatedly warned that restrictions on independent journalism can limit public access to information and reduce space for diverse viewpoints. The case of Tamadon Television has also raised broader questions about due process, property rights, and the ability of media organizations to operate freely while legal disputes remain unresolved.
