As Taliban continues its grip on the media the Taliban-run Ministry of Information and Culture announced on Tuesday that it had “corrected” 444 media violations over the past year.
The announcement comes amid widespread criticism from journalists and media watchdog groups, who say Taliban has heavily censored content in Afghanistan’s media.
These groups assert that the Taliban does not allow the publication or broadcast of content deemed contrary to its interests.
According to the Taliban-run information ministry, the violations addressed included “55 on television, 69 on radio, and 320 on YouTube channels.”
However, several YouTubers claim that the Taliban prevents them from producing or posting content that contradicts the group’s views.
Some YouTubers have even been arrested and imprisoned for publishing material that challenges the Taliban’s narrative.
This pattern of suppression has extended to journalists and civil activists in Afghanistan, with dozens being detained for sharing content critical of the Taliban on social media and through traditional media outlets.
The Taliban’s crackdown on media extends beyond YouTube and social media.
Media advocates have repeatedly raised alarms about the dire state of press freedom under the regime, noting that independent journalism has been all but silenced.
A Taliban spokesman for the Taliban-run Ministry of Information and Culture also claimed at a press conference in Kabul that they had produced six documentaries over the past year on various issues and “corrected” 11 scripts for films and television series.
While the Taliban touts these accomplishments, the regime has simultaneously introduced strict regulations under its “Law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,” which prohibits the recording or broadcasting of images.
In line with these restrictions, Taliban has banned the airing of all television series, films, and dramas, including those with Islamic or historical themes, even if produced domestically.
Since reclaiming power, Taliban has systematically prohibited the broadcasting of any form of drama or fictional content, underscoring its rigid stance on media and entertainment. This censorship forms part of the broader effort to control the country’s cultural narrative.
In addition to media restrictions, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture also claimed success in preserving Afghanistan’s cultural heritage.
According to the ministry, 2,410 artifacts from various historical periods were registered over the past year, and authorities reportedly prevented the smuggling of 416 antiquities at Kabul’s airport and other customs points.
