Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government announced plans to enforce a new media law that bans the publication of images of living beings. On Monday, the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) confirmed that this law will be applied gradually across the country.
The decision follows the Taliban’s recent formalization of their strict interpretation of Islamic law, which has shaped policies since their return to power in 2021. According to Saiful Islam Khyber, a PVPV spokesman, the ministry aims to convince the public that images of living beings contradict Islamic principles.
“This law applies nationwide, and we will enforce it step by step,” Khyber said. He stressed that persuasion, not force, would be used to encourage adherence to the law. He explained that the goal is to educate people on how these actions conflict with Sharia law.
The law outlines several key points for media outlets. It bans the use of images of living beings and instructs the press not to mock or undermine Islam or its teachings. Although some aspects of the law are not strictly enforced yet, Khyber mentioned efforts are underway in provinces like Kandahar, Helmand, and Takhar.
In Kandahar, local journalists said they have not been directly affected by the new regulations yet. However, in central Ghazni province, morality police have already begun to brief media professionals. Reporters have been advised to limit close-up shots and reduce the number of events they cover visually.
Journalists in Maidan Wardak also received similar warnings, indicating that gradual enforcement will follow in more regions.
This media restriction recalls the previous Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, when television and images were banned. Though the law hasn’t been widely enforced yet, there are signs it may soon become more rigid.
Since the Taliban took over in 2021, Afghanistan has seen a decline in press freedom. The country dropped from 122nd to 178th place in the global press freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders. The media sector has also faced significant setbacks, with only 5,100 media professionals remaining in the country, down from 8,400. Among them, only 560 are women, according to industry sources.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by ANN Media, except for the headline.)
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