(MENAFN) The Taliban leadership in Afghanistan has prohibited radio broadcasts from the US government-controlled Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). According to VOA, the suspension was enforced in response to "complaints" regarding the programming's content.
“Afghanistan has press laws and any network found repeatedly contravening these laws will have their privilege of reporting from and broadcasting within Afghanistan taken away,” Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Taliban foreign ministry representative, informed VOA in a written announcement.
As per the representative, VOA and Azadi Radio – the local Afghan incarnation of RFE/RL – failed to follow to these laws. Both were branded “repeat offenders” that “failed to show professionalism and were therefore shut down,” he stated. The prohibition took effect on Thursday.
According to VOA, the ruling Islamist administration did not disclose any more information about the particular complaints it received.
In response to the ban, the publication stated that it acts "with journalistic independence" and strives to give "complete, impartial coverage" of events.
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