Afghanistan's Taliban morality ministry said on Monday that it will enforce a law banning news media from publishing images of all living things, with the rule being implemented gradually. This comes after the Taliban recently formalized their strict interpretations of Islamic law, which they have followed since taking power in 2021.
Spokesman Saiful Islam Khyber told AFP that the law will apply across Afghanistan. He said officials will try to persuade people that these images go against Islamic law instead of using force. He explained that the goal is to advise people and help them understand that these practices should be avoided, reports Khaleej Times.
The new law includes various regulations for media, such as banning images of living beings and prohibiting any mockery of Islam or actions that contradict Islamic principles. So far, the enforcement of these rules has not been stringent, and Taliban officials continue to share photos on social media.
Khyber noted that efforts to implement the law are ongoing in several provinces, including Kandahar, Helmand, and northern Takhar, but enforcement hasn't begun everywhere. Journalists in Kandahar reported that they haven't received any instructions from the ministry or faced interference from the morality police while taking photos.
In Ghazni province, PVPV officials informed local journalists that the morality police would begin gradually enforcing the law. They advised visual journalists to take photos from a distance and to film fewer events to adjust to the new requirements. Similar guidance was given to reporters in Maidan Wardak province.
During the previous Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001, similar bans on media were in effect, but such measures have not been broadly enforced since their return. The media landscape has drastically shrunk, with the number of media workers dropping from 8,400 to 5,100, including only 560 women. Afghanistan's position in press freedom rankings has also declined, falling from 122nd to 178th out of 180 countries, according to Reporters without Borders.
Bd-pratidin English/Afia