Taliban Intensifies Control Over Public Life, Media in Afghanistan

The Taliban have issued a sweeping new media directive that bans all critical political discourse on air, requiring television and radio stations to obtain prior approval for show topics, guest speakers, and analyst commentary, Amu TV reported. Issued by the Taliban-run Ministry of Information and Culture, the “Policy on the Management of Political Programs in Afghanistan” extends state control to nearly all forms of public political discourse, including interviews, op-eds, livestreams, and social media posts.

Under the new rules, broadcasters must daily submit proposed topics and guest lists to a newly formed Political Program Oversight Committee. Analysts require Taliban-issued identification cards and are forbidden from expressing views that contradict official policy. The Taliban justify these restrictions as necessary to preserve “Islamic principles” and promote national unity, but journalists and press advocates denounce them as “state censorship in its clearest form.” Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have consistently dismantled independent media, shuttering outlets and detaining journalists.

In a parallel move to regulate recreational activities, Taliban morality enforcers have ordered operators of foosball tables in public parks and residential areas to cease operations. Sources report threats and floggings for those who resisted, particularly after owners were warned to destroy the molded heads on table players, which were deemed to disrupt the “balance of the game.” This prohibition is part of the Taliban’s broader campaign to restrict activities viewed as “un-Islamic,” signaling increasing ideological scrutiny over daily life in Afghanistan.