Taliban Warn Journalists to Follow Strict Rules on Conduct and Content

Taliban Warn Journalists to Follow Strict Rules on Conduct and Content
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Local sources in Laghman province report that Taliban officials have issued new warnings to journalists, instructing them to comply with the group’s rules, including growing beards and performing the five daily prayers. Journalists were also told to align their programming with the directives of Taliban leadership and to avoid content the group deems corrupting to society.

Meetings were held with representatives of nine print and broadcast outlets, where media workers said the restrictions have made their profession increasingly difficult and left them feeling hopeless. The Taliban has not issued an official statement on the matter.

Since regaining power four years ago, the group has imposed sweeping restrictions on media and free expression, including a recent ban on live broadcasting under its morality law, now enforced in more than half the country’s provinces.