I remember, one or two months after the Taliban seized power, a third or fourth-ranking official from the media organization I was employed entered the newsroom with a frightened and pale face. Addressing the news coordinator, they said, “Be aware that from now on, instead of Taliban, write ‘Islamic Emirate.'” The coordinator replied, “Certainly.” That day, I realized that this media outlet had surrendered to the Taliban. It was likely the first domestic media that yielded to the Taliban’s desires. Subsequently, it obediently followed their every gesture, eventually becoming a completely Taliban-controlled media outlet. Now, all its rhetoric about defending freedom of expression and citizen rights seems to have vanished. This media has transformed its role into producing naive, mercenary citizens who are only supposed to dance to the Taliban’s tune. The creation of an informed citizen, in this context, has taken on the opposite meaning. The Taliban have taken control of the management of this media outlet, exerting control over its content. It’s not the only media outlet; all domestic media in Afghanistan now find themselves in a situation where they must echo whatever the Taliban say.
Everything Sacrificed for trade:
Private Media outlets under the Taliban’s control claim to prioritize human rights, democracy, and freedom of expression, but in reality, they lack a clear editorial policy. Their policy revolves around money; thus, they are willing to work in any regime that provides opportunities for financial gain. In other words, for media traders, the only non-negotiable value is money, and other values are replaced based on the political situation. If yesterday the broadcasting of frivolous Indian and Turkish soap operas, music broadcasts, and concerts by Afghan, Tajik, and Pakistani singers were profitable, today broadcasting religious hymns, producing religious programs, and, in general, anything that aligns with the Taliban’s ideology is the path to financial success.
Commercial media outlets, even in reporting news, are censored and inclined towards the Taliban—a practice that goes against the journalistic standards claimed by media merchants, let alone critical journalism, which these outlets have never believed in. In censored journalism under the Taliban’s control, there is no such thing as freedom of expression, a favored liberal principle that commercial media outlets are supposed to champion. Whatever can exist, except freedom of expression.
Here, freedom of expression is presented as a universal and inclusive right, not a privilege exclusive to those in power and their defenders. This form of freedom of expression exists even in the most undemocratic and regressive systems, and the Taliban regime is no exception. In this freedom of expression, media and individuals are allowed to speak, but under conditions and limitations. Media outlets are constantly urged to adhere to “Islamic values, national interests, and media principles.” However, this recommendation doesn’t merely remain as advice; the Taliban even dictate to media executives and journalists what to say and what not to say when entering newsrooms. Citizens also observe that, when social media users are punished for a simple expression of opinion, media outlets and journalists are less likely to express sharp and critical views to avoid becoming targets of Taliban intelligence.
If media outlets choose to employ or advocate for such a freedom of expression, they can be “free” to the extent they desire. This is a Talibanized version of freedom of expression, a caricature that acts against itself. In this type of freedom of expression, the Taliban and their supporters are entirely free to sacrifice their enemies and critics to whatever extent they please and, conversely, to glorify “Islamic values” and overall, the Taliban’s achievements. Critics of the regime, however, face imprisonment and, therefore, cannot benefit from the right to freedom of expression and must be punished in complete silence. The Talibanized version of freedom of expression does not even allow its supporters to exceed certain limits – of course, within the realm of religious orthodoxy – and question the existing rigid and closed school system. In this way, the Taliban’s preferred freedom of expression sees itself as a single-handed player in opposition to an imaginary enemy that has no rights in the game and is absent, refusing to engage with any real opponent in the field.
The injustice that commercial media perpetrate is the promotion and institutionalization of a distorted form of freedom of expression. They communicate directly and indirectly with the Taliban, framing their information in a way that strengthens the Talibanized version of freedom of expression rather than opposing it. However, this injustice is not the sole transgression of commercial media in suppressing free and uncensored information. Normalizing the current catastrophic situation through selective reporting, denial, overlooking, and deliberately forgetting the harsh reality shaping life in the crisis-ridden land of Afghanistan is another negative and destructive function of commercial media.
Exaggeration in Positive News:
A daily examination of the news and reports from private commercial media operating under the Taliban’s control reveals a significant bias towards positive news, overshadowing negative and critical coverage. This approach is consciously adopted, creating an illusion that Afghanistan is under the enlightened rule of the Taliban, progressing towards stability, prosperity, and well-being, with little evidence of negativity.
Media outlets that are tied to the government and driven by a specific ideology tend to prioritize positive news, often mandated by the regime’s objectives. In a country where citizens face numerous tragedies, an excessive focus on positive news suggests that journalism is being used as a tool to portray the regime’s actions in a favorable light, compromising its honesty and credibility. This kind of journalism, tainted by sycophantic corruption, has fallen victim to the manipulative and corrupt practices of the Taliban regime. This contamination has serious consequences, not only affecting the media community but also permeating various aspects of life in society.