Reported by Kokche News Agency
On Friday, July 4th, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Afghanistan, issued a statement on X, highlighting the Taliban’s severe restrictions on media and political programming. Bennett described these developments as a troubling sign for press freedom in Afghanistan, marking another dark day for independent journalism in the country.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture recently issued a new directive titled “Policy for Hosting Political Programs (Panels) in Afghanistan,” which requires media outlets to submit their political programs for approval before they can be aired. This policy is seen as a significant escalation in the Taliban’s efforts to control political discourse and suppress independent reporting.
Bennett emphasized that the new policy further entrenches censorship and authoritarianism, limiting the ability of the media to report freely and objectively. He warned that these measures pose a serious threat to press freedom and human rights in Afghanistan.
The Freedom of Expression Center has strongly condemned the directive, describing it as a wide-reaching assault on media freedoms. They warned that these restrictions severely undermine the already fragile state of media independence, making it increasingly difficult for journalists to operate freely.
The new restrictions imposed by the Taliban mark a further escalation in the suppression of press freedom in Afghanistan. These policies are expected to limit the ability of media outlets to engage in independent reporting and political discourse.
The international community must closely observe Afghanistan’s evolving media landscape. The continued erosion of press freedoms poses a serious threat not only to Afghan society but also to global human rights standards. As the Taliban intensifies its control over the media, concerns about the country’s future as a free and open society grow.
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