Taliban Tightens Its Grip – Find Out What They’re Banning Next!

In a striking turn of events, parts of the Taliban-controlled media in Afghanistan are no longer showing images of living beings, a development that has raised eyebrows across the world. This new rule, which has been enforced in specific provinces, is part of a broader effort to comply with morality laws introduced by the ruling regime.

The enforcement of these measures began recently in several provinces, including Takhar, Maidan Wardak, and Kandahar. A government official, Saif ul Islam Khyber, who represents the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, confirmed the move. According to Khyber, media outlets in these regions have been “advised not to air or display images of anything with a soul,” which includes people and animals.

This new directive follows a series of restrictive laws introduced by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers since their return to power in 2021. In August, the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, approved a decree that banned women’s voices and uncovered faces in public spaces. The Taliban government has made it clear that these measures are part of a larger effort to combat what they deem as “vice” and promote “virtue.”

In addition to media restrictions, the new laws have seeped into various aspects of everyday life in Afghanistan. Public transportation, personal grooming, and even public celebrations are being closely regulated to reflect the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law, commonly known as Sharia. Article 17 of the new regulations, which forbids the publication of images of living beings, has ignited concerns about its impact on Afghan media and press freedom.

The implications of these new laws on the Afghan media landscape are worrying, especially given the fragile state of press freedom in the country. There has been no clarification on whether the rules apply to all media platforms, including foreign outlets, or only to local Afghan channels and websites. Moreover, no details have been provided on how the enforcement will unfold or when media outlets are expected to comply.

In another section of the new decree, Article 19 takes aim at music, solo female travelers, and interactions between unrelated men and women. The article prohibits playing music in public, bans women from traveling without a male guardian, and mandates strict gender segregation. Even transportation services are required to pause for prayer at designated times.

These restrictions have led to growing fears among Afghans, particularly women and girls. A report from the United Nations expressed deep concern over the expanding role of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in public life. The report highlights that the ministry’s influence is now stretching into areas such as media monitoring and addressing drug addiction, with far-reaching consequences.

Fiona Frazer, head of the human rights service at the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, voiced her concerns about the new developments, stating: “Given the multiple issues outlined in the report, the position expressed by the de facto authorities that this oversight will be increasing and expanding gives cause for significant concern for all Afghans, especially women and girls.”

What makes this situation even more perplexing is that no other Muslim-majority country, not even those known for their conservative stances, like Iran and Saudi Arabia, impose similar restrictions. While these nations enforce their own versions of morality laws, the Taliban’s rules go a step further, evoking memories of their previous rule in the late 1990s when they banned most television, radio, and newspapers altogether.

As the Taliban’s grip tightens on Afghan society, the world watches closely, especially as the lines between governance and control over personal freedoms become increasingly blurred. For now, Afghan media remains under heavy scrutiny, and the future of press freedom in the country remains uncertain.