Ayaz Gul VOA News August 25, 2024 ISLAMABAD — The United Nations expressed concern Sunday over the enactment of a morality law by Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban that imposes severe restrictions on personal freedom, silences women in public, and requires them to cover their faces. “It is a distressing vision for Afghanistan’s future, where moral inspectors have
By Siddhi Mahatole VOA News August 14, 2024 washington — The suspension of broadcast licenses, arrests and closures of news outlets in Afghanistan show that the Taliban continue to exert pressure on media, watchdogs say. In recent weeks, the Taliban-run Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority, or ATRA, suspended 17 broadcast licenses assigned to 14 media outlets in eastern
ORF: In the past two and a half years, rapid clampdown on independent institutions like media and free speech has debunked the sham of a ‘reformed Taliban’. Estimates suggest over 450 documented cases of media violations by the Islamic Emirate since its takeover. This includes the murders of three journalists, 219 detentions, and a staggering
By Abubakar Siddique June 11, 2024 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty The Taliban government has cracked down on rival Islamist parties in Afghanistan in what is seen as an effort to prevent any future opposition to its hard-line rule. Since banning all political parties last year, the Taliban has targeted two of its major former rivals. It
AP: The Taliban Thursday warned journalists and experts against working with Afghanistan International TV. It’s the first time they have told people not to cooperate with a specific outlet. Afghanistan International TV, which is headquartered in London, is accessible through satellite, cable and social media. Click here to read more (external link).
Roshan Noorzai Noshaba Ashna VOA News May 3, 2024 Reporters and media analysts in Afghanistan report steadily increasing censorship and deteriorating conditions for local journalists. Media on the ground feel as though “no stories can be filed” without Taliban approval, said a Kabul-based journalist who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation. The
The Guardian (UK): In the two decades before the Taliban returned to power, Afghanistan had a vibrant media sector. There were newspapers, television channels, periodicals, magazines and more, invigorating the public discourse by allowing citizens to express their views on national and local issues. That is completely gone now. Click here to read more (external
Ayaz Gul VOA News April 17, 2024 ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — The Taliban government in Afghanistan has suspended the broadcast of two privately run local TV channels over alleged violations of official regulations and “Islamic values.” Free media advocates Wednesday criticized the overnight suspension, calling it a violation of Afghanistan’s media-governing laws. The Taliban-run information ministry’s Media
Omid Marzban and Michael Scollon Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty April 14, 2024 Facebook users in Afghanistan fear the Taliban’s plans to block or restrict access to the popular social-media platform will deal a death blow to what is left of free speech in the country. It is unclear what exactly the “finalized” policy announced last
Ayaz Gul VOA News April 9, 2024 Media freedom advocates are expressing alarm over the Taliban’s proposal to restrict or completely ban access to Facebook in Afghanistan and have urged the fundamentalist rulers to reconsider the move. Najibullah Haqqani, minister of telecommunications and Information, announced last week on a local TV news channel that he