Taliban continues media restrictions under strange pretexts amid increasing pressure on females

The Taliban group has banned any telephone calls by girls and women to radios and televisions in Khost province in the south of the country, local sources confirmed.

The Taliban group has issued a letter warning the media officials in this province that if the media allow the girls to call the media, they will be summoned and interrogated.

The Taliban has considered the publication of school lessons and social programs involving participation of girls as the cause of moral corruption in this state.

In the meantime, a senior official of the Taliban Da’wah and Guidance described taking pictures and filming as a “great sin”, saying the media should refrain from filming and accusing many journalists of having their minds oriented towards corruption.

Last week, the Taliban governor in Kandahar ordered all government institutions in this province to refrain from taking pictures and video interviews with the media. The Taliban have already banned the media from using images of humans and animals in their advertisements.

These Taliban policies have provoked the reactions of journalists and institutions supporting the media, who believe the Taliban is set to close the entire range of video and audio media. This comes following the implementation of extensive bans that limited the access to information and the free flow of information.

According to a number of Afghan citizens, the Taliban fail to recognise poverty, unemployment, immigration, women’s exclusion from education, work, and their removal from all areas of social life. These protesting voices believe this radical group has usurped government seats, and is playing blind to the many problems of Afghanistan.