The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Taliban to reverse a newly imposed ban on domestic media broadcasting political and economic talk shows, warning that the restriction further erodes press freedom in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture issued the directive verbally to media executives in Kabul on Feb. 13, stating that outlets may only discuss political and economic matters through the group’s official spokespersons, according to CPJ.
“The Taliban must allow Afghan media to operate independently,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator.
Yi described the latest restriction as part of an ongoing effort by the Taliban to suppress independent journalism in the country. “This latest move to censor discussion, reporting, and debate of political and economic issues is yet another repressive measure that indicates the extreme steps the Taliban are taking to totally dismantle Afghanistan’s independent media,” she said.
The ban follows a series of measures aimed at curbing press freedom. In September, the Taliban prohibited live political broadcasts and required journalists to seek approval before airing pre-recorded programs, limiting coverage to pre-approved topics and participants.
CPJ also reported that journalists seeking to interview experts outside the Taliban’s list of 68 approved speakers must obtain permission from the Ministry of Information and Culture.
CPJ said its requests for comment from Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid went unanswered.
