Taliban suspend two TV stations in Afghanistan for allegedly neglecting Islamic, national values

The Taliban have suspended the activities of two TV stations in Afghanistan, alleging they failed to “consider national and Islamic values,” VOA reported yesterday.

According to the source, an official from the Information Ministry’s Media Violations Commission, Hafizullah Barakzai, said a court will investigate files on the two Kabul-based stations. Consequently, Noor TV and Barya TV cannot operate until the court gives its verdict.

Free media advocates Wednesday criticized the overnight suspension, calling it a violation of Afghanistan’s media-governing laws.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center or AFJC, an independent media watchdog, said in a statement that the suspensions were “against the country’s public media law” and marked another step toward stifling free media in the Taliban-ruled country.