Taliban orders ban on political and economic TV discussions in Afghanistan

The Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture has enacted a ban on broadcasting political and economic discussions.

During a February 12 meeting between media representatives and the ministry, officials verbally instructed that all political content be removed from television broadcasts, Caliber.Az reports referring to the Afghan Journalism Center (AFJC).

The directive also restricted TV journalists to only interviewing representatives of the current administration.

The new restrictions extend to economic discussions that “challenge the current government,” and apply to both private and independent television channels. The Ministry of Information and Culture further stated that specific guidelines regarding the implementation of the ban will be issued by February 17. As of now, the ministry has not clarified whether the ban will be temporary or permanent.

This move follows an earlier decree issued on January 14 by the Taliban government, which banned women from working as newscasters and anchors on television. Sources from Herat province indicated that the directive, issued by the office for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, claimed that women’s appearances on TV screens were considered a “provocation for men.” Media outlets were also warned to comply with the decree.

In August 2024, the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Deterrence of Vice introduced a law mandating the observance of decency according to Islamic tradition, which included a ban on the publication of "images of living beings" by the media.

The Taliban seized control of almost all of Afghanistan in August 2021, capturing major cities, including Kabul, with little resistance.

By Tamilla Hasanova