Media In Three More Afghanistan Provinces Banned From Publishing Images Of Living Beings

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 of Vice informed local media in these provinces to refrain from publishing any images of live animals. This order came through voice messages from local officials.

The messages, shared via WhatsApp groups of journalists and local authorities, instructed media outlets to comply with the Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law. They stressed adherence to the newly enforced restriction on live animal imagery.

Local sources in Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Nimroz confirmed that Taliban authorities had also summoned media leaders in these provinces to deliver the ban in person, warning of consequences for non-compliance.

With the addition of these three provinces, the total number of provinces where the Taliban has officially prohibited the publication of live animal images has reached ten. This is part of the ongoing suppression of media freedom under the current regime.

Over the past three years, the Taliban's rise to power has reversed decades of progress made in media freedom and expression in Afghanistan. The press now operates under extreme restrictions, leading to widespread self-censorship and media suppression.

Media outlets in Afghanistan face several challenges, including extensive oversight by Taliban officials, the promotion of religious fundamentalism, and the lack of space for critical or dissenting views. These restrictions severely hinder the role of independent journalism in Afghanistan.

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