Reporters Watchdog Raises Alarm Over ‘Extremely Dangerous’ Taliban Journalism Rules

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Journalists beaten by Taliban

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
September 23, 2021

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says a list of rules that the Taliban-led government is requiring Afghan journalists to follow opens the way to “censorship and persecution,” adding to growing international concerns about press freedoms in Afghanistan.

RSF warned in a report that the 11 rules to which journalists must comply are, in reality, “extremely dangerous” because they are vaguely worded and liable to be used to persecute journalists.

“Decreed without any consultation with journalists, these new rules are spine chilling because of the coercive use that can be made of them, and they bode ill for the future of journalistic independence and pluralism in Afghanistan,” the Paris-based media freedom watchdog’s Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said in a statement on September 22.

The rules “leave room for oppressive interpretation, instead of providing a protective framework allowing journalists, including women, to go back to work in acceptable conditions,” he added.

Since seizing power in mid-August the Taliban has said that media will remain “free and independent,” provided journalists work according to “Islamic principles,” are fair, and serve “national interests.”

The first three rules forbid journalists to broadcast or publish stories that are “contrary to Islam,” “insult national figures,” or violate “privacy.”

But the militants have also told female journalists at state broadcasters to stop coming into work, conducted door-to-door searches for reporters, and made changes to programming.

RSF said “there is no indication as to who determines, or on what basis it is determined, that a comment or a report is contrary to Islam or disrespectful to a national figure,” meaning that these rules can be misused or interpreted arbitrarily, it said.

The watchdog raised similar concerns over three other rules requiring journalists to “not try to distort news content,” “respect journalistic principles,” and “ensure that their reporting is balanced.”

According to RSF, the danger of a return to news control and censorship is enhanced by four other rules.

“Matters that have not been confirmed by officials at the time of broadcasting or publication should be treated with care,” one of them states.

According to another rule, media outlets must “prepare detailed reports in coordination with the GMIC,” without giving information about the nature of such reports.

The rule requiring media outlets to “adhere to the principle of neutrality in what they disseminate” and to “only publish the truth” further exposes journalists to arbitrary reprisals, RSF said.

Afghanistan was ranked 122nd out of 180 countries in the group’s 2021 World Press Freedom Index published in April.

Copyright (c) 2021. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Related

Claim: Afghan Resistance Leaders, Long Backed by CIA, Have Fled Following Taliban Takeover

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Massoud

The Intercept: The retreat of Ahmad Massoud and Amrullah Saleh belies public claims that they are still in Afghanistan. There is also ample historical precedent for opposition groups fleeing to neighboring countries to plot their eventual return. Click here to read more (external link).

NRF Response:

Waltz, Graham Joint Statement on Call with Afghan Resistance Leader Ahmad Massoud

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Press Release
September 22, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL-6) and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (SC) released the following joint statement:

“It was a great honor and privilege to talk to Ahmad Massoud, who is leading the Afghan National Resistance Front.  We appreciated hearing his continued commitment to resisting the brutality of the Afghan Taliban and standing for basic human rights and freedoms. It is clear to us after this conversation that the Afghan Taliban are deeply unpopular and resented throughout the country. Their cabinet and forces are comprised of al-Qaeda and other listed terrorist groups.  It is in America’s interest that the Afghan Taliban not be legitimized by the international community because they are, and have been, terrorists.

“Additionally, we call on the Biden Administration to resist any effort to recognize the Afghan Taliban as the government of Afghanistan and resist all calls to provide the Afghan Taliban representation at the United Nations.”

 

Taliban treating non Pashtuns differently

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Afghan Students In Tajikistan Face An Uncertain Future

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Following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the previous government’s funding for a school for Afghans in Tajikistan’s capital was cut off. A school official hopes wealthy Afghans can step in, but so far, parents of the students have had to help cover the costs to pay rent for the school.

Related

UN Frees Emergency Funds To Prevent Afghan Health System ‘Collapse’

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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
September 22, 2021

The United Nations says it is releasing $45 million to help prevent Afghanistan’s battered health-care system, which the World Health Organization (WHO) said was “on the brink of collapse” following the Taliban’s takeover in mid-August.

Afghanistan’s health-care system was plunged into deep crisis after the Taliban swept into power in mid-August, complicating aid deliveries and leaving many health facilities understaffed.

Countries and international aid organizations have suspended disbursements for Afghanistan to prevent the Taliban from gaining access to aid money, while tens of thousands of Afghan doctors and other medics have fled the country and many female staff stayed away from work.

“Afghanistan’s health system is on the brink of collapse,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and regional director Ahmed al-Mandhari said on September 22 after a visit to Kabul. “Unless urgent action is taken, the country faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.”

In a statement on September 22, UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said that $45 million will go to WHO and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), allowing them with the help of partner nongovernmental organizations to keep health facilities operating until the end of the year.

“Medicines, medical supplies and fuel are running out in Afghanistan. Cold chains are compromised. Essential health-care workers are not being paid,” Griffiths said, adding that “allowing Afghanistan’s health-care delivery system to fall apart would be disastrous.”

“People across the country would be denied access to primary health care such as emergency caesarian sections and trauma care.”

Tedros said nine of 37 hospitals treating COVID-19 patients have closed, while “all aspects of the COVID-19 response have dropped, including surveillance, testing, and vaccination.”

While 2.2 million people had been vaccinated before August, immunization rates have “decreased rapidly” in recent weeks, and 1.8 million doses in the country remain unused.

“Swift action is needed to use these doses in the coming weeks,” Tedros said.

Because fewer female nurses are going to work, female patients are also staying away from the clinics. However, the WHO continues to invest in training women in this field, it said.

The WHO says it has brought 170 tons of medical supplies to Afghanistan since the Taliban took power. To continue the aid, the WHO needs some 38 million dollars for the next four months.

Copyright (c) 2021. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Fissure widens between Pak Army and ISI chiefs over control in Afghanistan

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Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa (L) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt General Faiz Hameed (R).

India Today: As Pakistan attempts to assert its influence in Kabul, there is a major tussle going on between Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt General Faiz Hameed. Sources in the intelligence agencies said the tussle has come to a point where the Pakistan Army chief has been trying to remove Hameed from his post, but has not been able to do so due to the strong influence of the Pakistani spy agency. Click here to read more (external link).