Taliban imposes ban on broadcast of images of living beings in Faryab, sources say

The Taliban have extended their ban on broadcasting images of living beings to Faryab Province, Amu TV reported. This decision follows a review of Article 17 of the Taliban’s “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law, which prohibits the publication or broadcast of images depicting living creatures. Provincial officials instructed local media to comply with the ban.

Since September 2024, this law—signed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and enforced by acting Minister Khalid Hanafi—has been implemented in at least 17 provinces. The Taliban-run National Television in these areas has restricted broadcasts to audio reports only, while private channels have also been barred from airing visual content.

The ban was first enforced in Kandahar in September 2024 and has since expanded rapidly, with eight provinces, including Faryab, added in the past month. Other affected provinces include Takhar, Helmand, Nangarhar, and Bamyan. The Taliban-controlled media report that enforcement efforts have intensified recently, reflecting a strict adherence to the law across Taliban-held regions.