Taliban Intensifies Media Crackdown in Badghis Province
On September 19, Hasht-e Subh Daily reported that the Taliban have intensified their crackdown on media freedom in Afghanistan, recently shutting down Naraiman Radio in Badghis province. According to reports, three employees were arrested in Qadis district and held for four days before their release. The Taliban halted the station’s broadcasts without providing an explanation, and it has remained off the air for over a week.
Local sources indicated that Naraiman Radio had been receiving support from the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) for media protection, which may have prompted the Taliban’s actions. The Taliban reportedly jammed satellite frequencies of the Afghanistan International News Network, further restricting information flow.
An anonymous source revealed that the station’s broadcasts were heavily censored and controlled by the Taliban, particularly after it secured a project to produce documentaries on Afghanistan’s historical issues. Matiullah Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Director of Information and Culture in Badghis, has been criticized for his stance against media freedom, refusing to comply with directives from Kabul.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) condemned the jamming of satellite frequencies and called for an end to such restrictions. Over the past three years, the Taliban have issued numerous directives undermining media laws, including bans on female journalists and restrictions on women’s representation in media. Reporters Without Borders noted a significant decline in press freedom since the Taliban’s return to power.
