KHOST, Afghanistan — Ghargasht Radio, a local broadcaster in the southeastern province of Khost, resumed operations on Saturday following a three-day ban imposed by the Taliban. The group’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice ordered the shutdown after the station aired background music during its programming, a practice now prohibited under the Taliban’s strict media guidelines.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported that Ghargasht Radio was allowed to reopen after its management committed to following the Taliban’s rules. The AFJC condemned the closure as an infringement on free speech, highlighting the continuing erosion of press freedoms in Afghanistan.
In late October, Taliban officials held a meeting with media representatives in Khost, reiterating that outlets must comply with the new regulations from the Vice and Virtue Ministry. These rules include a ban on music and restrictions on broadcasting images of living beings. The Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic principles has resulted in severe limitations across Afghan media, drawing condemnation from local journalists, human rights advocates, and international observers.
The timing of the station’s brief closure coincided with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, observed on November 2. In a statement for the occasion, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the ongoing dangers journalists face worldwide, noting that nine out of ten cases of violence against journalists go unpunished. In Afghanistan, where the Taliban have imposed wide-ranging restrictions on the press, journalists continue to face significant risks in their work.
