Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister for the Promotion of Virtue, in his recent visits to the provinces, has emphasised on the strict implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Virtue.
Informed sources said that the main purpose of these trips was to enforce the ban on photography and filming.
Hanafi called on the local Taliban authorities to fully implement the orders of the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in cooperation with the ombudsman.
The Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced on Wednesday that Khalid Hanafi had travelled to Logar Province, where he met with members of the Taliban and local officials.
The ministry did not elaborate on the details of Khalid Hanafi's personal meetings with provincial officials or his recommendations.
Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada and a number of Taliban ministers, governors and commanders are working to ban photography and filming at the level of government institutions. However, some members of the Taliban still post pictures of their daily meetings and activities.
Khalid Hanafi, who is close to and trusted by the Taliban leader, has instructed Taliban governors and commanders to refrain from taking photos and videos during his travels. The first province where the ban was implemented was Kandahar, where the governor of the province, Mullah Shirin, banned photography and filming and asked government employees to submit their reports in writing.
Currently, announcements from some provinces and ministries are published without photographs, and in some areas, the broadcast of national television programmes has also been stopped.
It is said that Khalid Hanafi's trips to the provinces were made on the direct orders of Mullah Hibatullah. He travelled to Nangarhar, Laghman and Logar last week and in addition to attending public meetings, he also had personal meetings with local officials.
According to the order of the Taliban leader, the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has received special privileges and all government institutions have been obliged to fully implement the laws and orders of this ministry.
