KABUL, Afghanistan — Taliban have ordered Afghanistan’s leading media outlets to delete YouTube content they deem contrary to “Islamic, cultural, and Afghan traditional values,” including videos published before their return to power in 2021.
In an official letter dated May 4, the ministry instructed TOLO TV, Ariana TV, and 1TV to identify and remove videos that violate the Taliban’s interpretation of religious and cultural norms.
A copy of the letter, reviewed by Amu TV, states that the order follows a request from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice issued a month earlier.
Taliban said the purpose of the directive is to prevent the public from viewing or redistributing this content through likes, comments, and other interactions on social media.
“Content that violates Islamic values, Afghan culture, and social customs must be removed from YouTube platforms,” the letter states.
Taliban have also urged the outlets to take immediate action and instructed them to apply for formal licenses from the Ministry of Information and Culture to regulate their digital operations, especially on YouTube.
Since reclaiming power, the Taliban have imposed a growing set of restrictions on the media — including bans on music, female performers, and so-called “immoral” content — across both traditional and digital platforms. The new order signals an effort to extend those controls to archived material online, which the group sees as inconsistent with their governance framework.
Media freedom in Afghanistan has steadily eroded under Taliban rule. Journalists and broadcasters have faced detentions, censorship, and growing pressure to self-regulate. Rights groups warn that the latest move threatens not only present-day reporting but also the preservation of Afghanistan’s cultural and media history.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Ministry of Information and Culture
Department of Publications
Directorate for Monitoring Media and Social Networks
Number: 178
Date: May 4, 2025
To: Respected Network of Tolo Television
Subject: Removal of Content Contrary to Religious, Cultural, and Traditional Values
Peace be upon you, and may Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
Based on the instruction of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Letter No. 111), the Directorate of Publications of the Ministry of Information and Culture hereby informs all domestic media outlets that any content contrary to Islamic, cultural, and Afghan traditional values—whether broadcasted before or after the Islamic Emirate’s takeover—must be removed from their YouTube channels.
The objective of this directive is to prevent the viewing, liking, commenting on, and other forms of user interaction with such content in the digital space.
Your esteemed outlet is therefore strongly instructed to:
Immediately begin removing or modifying any content that contradicts Islamic values.
Apply for an official license from this ministry to regulate the operation of your YouTube channels and digital media platforms.
With respect,
Mujahid Farahi
Director of Publications
Copy to:
Respected Network of Ariana Television
Respected Network of One TV
Respected Directorate of Public Awareness, Department of Publications
