The Taliban fear free media, independent journalists, and independent news organizations more than anything else, and they make their best to stop the media from operating freely. The group looks at independent media activities from a security-intelligence point of view, not from the point of view of citizens’ rights and public interest. Therefore, any movement that is outside the defined framework of this group is considered equal to war and military activity.
Not only the Taliban, but all dictatorial regimes consider keeping citizens ignorant as their basic strategy. Especially about the actions of the government and events in the public arena that affect the lives of citizens and the fate of everyone. From the point of view of such regimes, uninformed citizens become neutral and characterless forces that can do anything against them. Without any danger to the ruling apparatus.
The danger for dictatorial apparatuses starts from the moment when citizens get access to information. If people know how public resources are wasted, how little is done in providing services to the people, how far the law is ignored, how far the extra-legal powers have spread, how far the mafia has penetrated the system, what is the limit of discrimination, what dimensions corruption has taken and how public interests have been sacrificed to individual or group interests, they will find a will to change. Realizing the depth of the disaster that has befallen them, the citizens will definitely seek solutions, find ways of cohesion and harmony, and translate individual desires into universal ideals. When there is a consensus among different political and social forces on major demands, such as the rule of law, popular participation, mechanisms for monitoring the actions of the rulers, making officials accountable and preventing corruption and tyranny, the way of struggle will be clear and the process of change will be keyed.
Such a transformation is not possible in a society without media activity and continuous information, away from the censorship of government agencies. If there is no free media, it will not even be possible for citizens to talk about public interests, and as a result, society will become a formless mass, and people will become isolated and fragmented elements that will only be used as a ride by the rulers. It is true that the media make mistakes in some cases, especially when the lack of immunity due to the absence of the rule of law deprives them of the natural field of activity. But this is one of the side effects of the case, and the fault lies with the repression apparatus, and it does not reduce the value and importance of media work in any way. The Taliban are now following in the footsteps to extend their rule for a few days, increase their use of public resources, and expand their hand in oppressing citizens. People will not easily surrender to this situation and the struggle for freedom will continue with all the costs. Free media are the most important tools of citizens on the front line of the battle for freedom and human rights
