Taliban Bans Live Political Broadcasts in Afghanistan
On September 21, the Taliban imposed new restrictions on domestic media, banning live broadcasts of political programs. During a meeting with media executives, the group mandated that all political content must be pre-recorded and approved by the Taliban before airing. This directive aims to control the narrative surrounding political discussions, with media outlets required to censor any material deemed “sensitive” or critical of the regime.
The Taliban has provided a list of 68 “approved experts,” and only these individuals are permitted as guests on political programs. Media outlets face severe repercussions for non-compliance, which may include punitive actions against executive editors and program hosts. This move further limits freedom of expression and critical discourse on Afghan media.
Earlier in July, the Afghan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) suspended the licenses of 14 media outlets in Nangarhar province for alleged non-payment of license fees. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned the closures and called for the reinstatement of the licenses.
According to IFJ, in the three years since the fall of Kabul and the instatement of the Taliban in power, Afghanistan has witnessed the closure of more than half of its media outlets, with nearly 80 per cent of female journalists losing their jobs due to the new regime’s draconian restrictions. The Taliban has also commenced efforts to impose stricter controls on social media platforms including Facebook.
