According to recent reports, Taliban-run media in certain Afghan provinces have ceased displaying images of living beings in order to adhere to morality laws. The Vice and Virtue Ministry of Afghanistan introduced regulations in August that govern various aspects of daily life, such as public transportation, shaving, media content, and celebratory events, all in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia.
One particular law, Article 17, prohibits the publication of images depicting living beings, raising concerns about the potential impact on Afghan media and press freedom. A spokesperson for the Vice and Virtue Ministry confirmed that government-controlled media outlets in Takhar, Maidan Wardak, and Kandahar have been instructed not to broadcast or showcase images of any living beings, including people and animals.
The ministry representative stated that their department is responsible for enforcing these morality laws but did not specify whether the restrictions apply to all media platforms, including foreign outlets, or solely to Afghan channels and websites. Additionally, details regarding the enforcement mechanisms and any deadlines for compliance were not provided.
Reports indicate that the Afghan Independent Journalists Union Director mentioned that initially, state media was directed to refrain from airing pictures and videos featuring living beings, a directive that was later extended to all media entities in the specified provinces. Consequently, local independent media outlets have reportedly transitioned to broadcasting nature-related content instead of human or animal imagery.
It is worth noting that no other Muslim-majority country, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, enforces similar restrictions on media content. Notably, during their previous regime in the late 1990s, the Taliban had imposed a ban on most forms of television, radio, and newspapers altogether.
