KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s Taliban government announced a new law prohibiting media outlets from publishing images of all living things, with implementation expected to occur gradually.
Saiful Islam Khyber, a spokesman for Afghan government, stated that the law will apply throughout Afghanistan and aims to align media practices with the Taliban’s interpretation of law.
The legislation outlines strict rules for news media, including prohibitions against mocking or humiliating the religion. Although the new law has not yet been strictly enforced, it signals a tightening grip on media freedoms reminiscent of the previous Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001, when such media restrictions were commonplace. Interestingly, despite the new proclamations, Taliban officials continue to share photos of individuals on social media platforms.
The implementation of this law underscores the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to impose its stringent interpretation of laws on Afghan society and restrict freedom of expression.
