Taliban Authorities Halt Operations of Two Television Channels for ‘Breach of Islamic and National Principles’ in Afghanistan

Taliban Authorities Halt Operations of Two Television Channels for ‘Breach of Islamic and National Principles’ in Afghanistan
Two Afghan television channels have been abruptly removed from broadcasting for allegedly infringing upon “Islamic and national values.”

According to Khubaib Ghufran, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture, the “Barya” and “Noor” TV channels were suspended on Tuesday due to their failure to adhere to “journalistic principles “Their programming was causing confusion among the public, and their owners are located abroad,” Ghufran informed AFP. “The media violation commission has suspended their operations.”

He added, “Their owners have also taken positions opposing the Taliban government, and until they come forward to answer the questions posed to them, their operations will remain suspended.” This move is part of a broader crackdown on media freedoms since the Taliban regained control in 2021. Last year, the Taliban mandated that all national and international Non-Governmental Organizations enforce a ban on their female employees from working, citing complaints about their attire. This directive came shortly after the Taliban prohibited women from attending universities, triggering international condemnation and domestic protests.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported that “Barya” had been repeatedly warned by the country’s media commission for airing remarks by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former powerful warlord and prime minister, about the Taliban government. Similarly, “Noor” had received warnings for broadcasting music and showing the uncovered faces of female presenters, according to the AFJC. The “Barya” channel is owned by Habiburrahman Hekmatyar, son of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who currently resides in exile and has been increasingly at odds with the Taliban authorities. On the other hand, “Noor” is owned by Salahuddin Rabbani, son of former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was assassinated in 2011 by a Taliban-affiliated suicide bomber. Both owners live in exile. Habiburrahman Hekmatyar emphasized that “Barya” prioritized religious and national values, contrasting them with the Taliban’s values. Similarly, Salahuddin Rabbani’s “Noor” channel has been targeted for its content, reflecting the complex political landscape of Afghanistan’s media.