Kandahar officials ordered not to photograph live things

Authorities in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, ordered its officials on Sunday not to take pictures or videos of “living things”, media outlets reported.

In a letter addressed to civil and military officials, the provincial department of interior directed them “to refrain from taking pictures of living things in your formal and informal gatherings, because it causes more harm than good”.

A spokesperson for Kandahar’s governor told AFP the letter was authentic.

Several media outlets have refrained from using images of people and animals since the Taliban returned to power more than two years ago.

However, official central government departments frequently distribute and share pictures of senior officials meeting foreign dignitaries. 

Since returning to power in August 2021, Taliban movement has imposed a long list of restrictions on the Afghan people, most importantly is the ongoing ban on girls’ education.