The Taliban have expanded a ban on publishing and broadcasting images of living beings to 24 provinces across Afghanistan, further tightening restrictions on media and freedom of expression, the Afghanistan Journalists Center said.
In a statement issued on Thursday, January 8, the Afghanistan Journalists Center said the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has enforced the ban in Uruzgan province, ordering media outlets to stop publishing images and converting the provincial state television channel into a radio station.
The centre said the move is part of a broader, nationwide expansion of the policy, which now applies officially in 24 provinces. It added that new restrictions have also been imposed on the work of journalists and media organisations in Uruzgan.
According to the statement, Abdul Hai Omari, the Taliban-appointed head of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Uruzgan, instructed local media outlets during a coordination meeting on Wednesday to refrain from taking or publishing images. He cited Article 17 of the ministry’s law and warned that “violators will be considered criminals and will face legal action”.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center said enforcing the ban violates fundamental principles of freedom of expression and free media, warning that it would have serious consequences for journalists and media outlets. The organisation called on the Taliban to ensure an environment in which media can operate freely and without fear.
Under the Taliban’s law on the propagation of virtue, the publication of images of “living beings” is prohibited. In enforcing the rule, the Taliban have suspended the operations of state television channels and other local media outlets in several provinces.
International organisations have repeatedly condemned the ban and urged the Taliban to review the policy and respect freedom of expression in Afghanistan.
