The Taliban have shut down Noor and Barya TV stations as part of their broad restrictions on media outlets. The Taliban’s Media Violations Commission alleges that these two TV stations were suspended because they ignored the commission’s recommendations and disregarded journalistic principles. This action has prompted reactions from media support organizations and journalists. However, some journalists claim to have lost their jobs and resorted to menial work after the Taliban closed media outlets. They argue that media support organizations in Kabul not only fail to help journalists but also try to normalize the difficult information environment by organizing symbolic programs and spending heavily. Journalists warn that if this situation continues, media voices will be silenced, and outlets may become mere mouthpieces for the Taliban.
Last week, the Taliban Media Violations Commission announced the suspension of Noor and Barya TV stations’ activities in the country. The Taliban claim that these TV stations have been suspended due to their failure to comply with the recommendations of the Media Violations Commission and what this group considers as ignoring journalistic principles.
The Ministry of Information and Culture under Taliban control alleges that the owners of these media outlets repeatedly propagated against this group, hence the suspension of these TV stations’ activities.
Khabib Ghufran, spokesperson for the Taliban-managed Ministry of Information and Culture, announced: “Following the principles, we have decided to refer these media outlets to court, suspending their activities until the court reaches a decision. The commission made this decision.”
However, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has deemed the suspension of broadcasts by Barya and Noor TV stations as illegal. In a statement, the center has asserted that the closure of these two private media outlets is contrary to the country’s universal media laws and is a step towards further restricting the activities of free media that should be revoked.
The statement reads: “The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) considers the suspension of Noor and Barya TV stations’ activities and the closure of the gates of these two private media outlets as illegal and condemns it as an act aimed at pressuring and further restricting the activities of free and open media in Afghanistan.”
In additional responses, the Human Rights Defenders Plus (HRD) has declared that this action limits human rights monitoring in Afghanistan and citizens’ access to information. The organization has criticized the Taliban’s actions as irresponsible and in conflict with national and international values and laws. The statement asserts: “The absence of media oversight in Afghanistan fosters impunity for human rights abusers.”
Simultaneously, the Human Rights Defenders Plus has called on human rights organizations worldwide to stand alongside Afghan media institutions, organizations, and personnel in the current difficult conditions and not allow the people’s voices to be silenced further by launching extensive advocacy efforts.
This entity has also urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to take practical and urgent measures to support freedom of expression and the rights of journalists in Afghanistan and hold the Taliban accountable for their actions. According to the Human Rights Defenders Plus, the UN Human Rights Committee should establish a more rigorous
accountability mechanism regarding restrictions on freedom of expression in Afghanistan as the body overseeing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Meanwhile, some journalists who have recently left Afghanistan for neighboring countries, in conversation with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, state that due to the blocking of media outlets, many journalists have become unemployed. According to them, journalists relied on their livelihoods, and with the closure of media outlets, they lost their professional and specialized duties and were struggling with difficult economic conditions.
Some of these journalists claim that many of them have lost their jobs due to the Taliban’s widespread restrictions and are wandering in search of menial jobs. They say that even jobs like shopkeeping, painting, peddling, and other menial tasks are unavailable to journalists who oppose the prevailing information situation.
These journalists allege that instead of focusing on the fundamental problems of the media community, the supporting institutions and organizations operating domestically are pursuing unfounded and unnecessary projects. According to them, these organizations aim to normalize the challenging informational situation by organizing symbolic workshops and seminars.
Among them, female journalists face numerous difficulties and endanger their lives in producing media content. Female journalists say that due to the Taliban’s restrictive policies, about 90% of female journalists have lost their jobs.
A female journalist, opting not to disclose her name in fear of Taliban reprisals, informs the Hasht-e Subh Daily that limited access to information, journalist mistreatment, and their vulnerability are significant challenges confronting the media community in Afghanistan.
The journalist stresses that the Taliban systematically enforces strict rules to limit media and journalist activities daily. They assert that dissenting voices in Afghanistan’s media have been silenced, and journalists face beatings and torture for reporting on anti-Taliban protests.
Female journalists say that media and journalists inside Afghanistan are unprecedentedly under pressure from individuals affiliated with the Taliban intelligence. According to them, the Taliban intelligence pressures and censors journalists and media outlets in various ways.
One female journalist says that the Taliban intelligence tries to turn all open media in Afghanistan into their “propaganda machine” through force, threats, and pressure, resulting in severe psychological pressure on journalists. She emphasizes that this action leads committed journalists to quit their jobs and live clandestinely.
Another female journalist contributes: “At some media outlets I’ve collaborated with, intelligence officials have summoned them and not only obtained written commitments to refrain from publishing dissenting voices but also provided them with a list of topics to avoid publishing.”
The journalist continues: “In the first month of 2023, officials from one of the security sectors summoned me through a district representative and took a commitment from me not to publish against them, and despite giving assurances, they also ensured that I do not publicize the issue and dismissed my husband from his duties.”
Previously, Mohammad Hashem Shaheed Wror, the Taliban’s Director of the Directorate of Invitation and Guidance, had said during a seminar in Kabul that taking pictures is a “major sin.” He said, “Media personnel, you too should keep your beard and refrain from shaving it. Do not spend all your time taking pictures. Indeed, taking pictures is a major sin.”