Afghanistan Journalists Center Decries Ban on Live Images in Sar-e Pol

Afghanistan Journalists Center Decries Ban on Live Images in Sar-e Pol
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The Afghanistan Journalists Center has strongly condemned the recent ban on live images in Sar-e Pol province, calling it a serious violation of media freedom and freedom of expression, Khaama Press reported. The ban, issued by the Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice during a meeting on July 14, 2025, prohibits media outlets from broadcasting or publishing any live images of living beings, including on social media platforms.

Khairullah Khairkhah, the department’s representative, notified local media about the new restrictions, which have forced Sar-e Pol’s national television station to operate solely as a radio broadcaster, as officials refuse to participate in video interviews. This ban follows similar restrictions previously imposed in nineteen other provinces, such as Kandahar, Takhar, and Helmand, making Sar-e Pol the twentieth province under such limitations.

Several local media outlets, including private radios Seda-e Sar-e Pol, Banoo, and Anbir, along with the provincial branch of Bakhtar News Agency and the state-run Sar-e Pol publication, have been heavily affected. A local journalist, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the ban has severely curtailed media work in the region.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has called on the Taliban to immediately lift this and other anti-media orders to ensure journalists can work freely and safely. The organization stressed that protecting press freedom is vital for maintaining an informed and transparent society. The ban represents a troubling expansion of media restrictions in Afghanistan, further silencing journalists and limiting citizens’ access to information.