Afghanistan International: In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, 10 July, UNAMA warned that the policy, which requires prior approval of programme content and guest speakers by Taliban authorities, risks fostering fear and self-censorship among Afghan journalists and media outlets. Under the new rules, media outlets must seek prior approval from the
Afghanistan International: Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, censored parts of an audio recording of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada’s Eid speech at the Eidgah Mosque in Kandahar. Notably, Akhundzada’s voice was cut off at the moment he began criticising the widespread influence of the media among the public. The censorship of Akhundzada’s speech prompted sharp reactions
Afghanistan International: The Taliban have detained three journalists in Takhar province, with local sources alleging they were subjected to torture while in custody. The detainees include Sayed Munir Hadaf, director of Tasweer Weekly and head of the National Journalists’ Union of Takhar; Asadullah Timur, a local reporter; and Nasratullah Ebrahimi, a journalist with Ariana News.
Khaama: On Saturday, May 3, World Press Freedom Day arrives amid mounting concerns over the deteriorating state of media freedom in Afghanistan. Under Taliban rule, the country’s once-vibrant press landscape continues to shrink under severe censorship and repression. Click here to read more (external link). More Afghanistan ranks 175th out of 180 countries in press
Amu: Taliban on Tuesday suspended the operations of Rah-e-Farda Television, a private broadcaster based in Kabul over “staff complaints” and “unpaid salaries.” In a statement, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture cited “repeated complaints” from journalists and employees about years of unpaid salaries and benefits as the reason for the suspension. Founded in 2006
Amu: Taliban have expanded their ban on the broadcast of images of living beings to 16 provinces, with both state-run and private television stations now restricted to audio-only reporting, according to an investigation by Amu TV. Most recently, the Taliban extended the restrictions to Bamyan and Panjshir provinces, effective from April 16, 2025. The moves
Amu: The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported Tuesday that Taliban have banned the capturing and publication of images of living beings in Bamiyan Province. According to the AFJC, the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice issued a formal letter to local government offices in Bamiyan on April 17, mandating enforcement
The Guardian (UK): Once dubbed the ‘Afghan Rupert Murdoch’, Mohseni’s media business was founded after the fall of the Taliban and is now navigating their return. Founded by Mohseni and his siblings – Afghan emigres who returned to their childhood home from Australia after the removal of the Taliban in 2001 – Moby was the
Khaama: The Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that the Taliban issued a ban on the publication of live animal images to media outlets in Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Nimroz provinces. This directive was communicated to local media outlets on Thursday, March 7. According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center, the Taliban’s Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention
Khaama: The Afghanistan National Journalists’ Union and the Afghanistan Journalists Center have released reports ahead of National Journalists’ Day, March 17, shedding light on the situation of media and journalists over the past year. These reports present a concerning picture of the restrictions, rights violations, and challenges faced by the media under the rule of