The Taliban in Afghanistan is reportedly enforcing a ban on media outlets airing images of living beings, according to an Afghan official and the Associated Press. The ban, being enforced by the Vice and Virtue Ministry in certain provinces, is an extension of laws announced in August which also banned women’s voices and bare faces. The legislation is the first of its kind since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal. The new rule, which was approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, specifically bans the publication of images depicting living beings.
Vice and Virtue Ministry spokesman Saif ul Islam Khyber confirmed that media outlets in provinces such as Maidan Wardak, Kandahar, and Takhar have been advised not to show images of anything with a soul. The ban has been extended to state media as well, with the ministry instructing them not to air such images. In response to the ban, independent local media in some provinces have stopped running videos and images of living beings, opting instead to broadcast nature videos. This new rule has sparked international concern, particularly due to its extreme nature and the restrictions it places on women.
Afghanistan is the only Muslim-majority country currently enforcing a broadcasting rule of this kind. In addition to banning images of living beings, the Vice and Virtue Ministry has also deemed women’s voices as “intimate” and has prohibited women from singing or reading aloud in public. Furthermore, women are required to wear veils in public under the legislation. The announcement of these new laws has raised alarm internationally, with many expressing concerns about the Taliban’s treatment of women and the restrictions being placed on media and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.
The ban on images of living beings is an extension of laws announced in August, indicating a pattern of increased restrictions and censorship by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Ministry is responsible for enforcing these rules, which are seen as a reflection of the group’s ultra-conservative interpretation of Islamic law. The legislation has led to a significant shift in the media landscape in Afghanistan, with media outlets being forced to comply with the ban on images of living beings in order to avoid repercussions from the militant group.
The ban on images of living beings is just one of several restrictions imposed by the Taliban, including the ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public. These new rules have led to a drastic change in the way media operates in Afghanistan, with many outlets being forced to alter their content to comply with the Taliban’s regulations. The international community has expressed concern over the Taliban’s treatment of women and the restrictions being placed on media freedom in Afghanistan. It remains to be seen how these new rules will impact Afghan society and the media landscape in the country moving forward.
In conclusion, the Taliban in Afghanistan is enforcing a ban on media outlets airing images of living beings, as well as imposing restrictions on women’s voices and appearance in public. These new rules reflect the Taliban’s ultra-conservative interpretation of Islamic law and have sparked international concern over the treatment of women and freedom of expression in Afghanistan. The ban on images of living beings is an extension of laws announced in August and is being enforced by the Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Ministry. As media outlets in Afghanistan adjust to comply with these new regulations, the impact of the Taliban’s censorship on Afghan society and the media landscape remains to be seen.
