CPJ calls on Taliban to revoke ban on political broadcasts in Afghanistan’s media
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), based in New York, has called on the Taliban government to reverse its decision to ban live broadcasts of political programs in domestic media.
On Tuesday, September 24, the CPJ issued a statement on its website urging the Taliban to lift these restrictions.
In the statement, Beh Lih Yi, the CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, emphasized that the new restrictions imposed by the Taliban signify the end of fundamental media freedoms in Afghanistan.
Ms. Beh Lih Yi added that this action is an attempt to turn the media into a propaganda tool for the Taliban, which must be stopped immediately and permanently.
The CPJ, quoting two journalists whose names were not disclosed, reported that the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture summoned media directors in Kabul on Sunday and issued a list of new restrictions on press freedom.
Under these restrictions, journalists who produce live political programs daily must seek approval from the Taliban regarding the proposed topics and participants each morning. The programs must be recorded and reviewed by the Taliban before being aired.
Earlier, on Monday, the Afghanistan Journalists’ Protection Organization alleged that the Taliban had introduced a list of trusted analysts and guests for media political discussions.
The increased restrictions on media freedom in Afghanistan undermine journalistic integrity and deprive the public of access to independent and diverse perspectives.
The Taliban’s control over political content threatens to erode the transparency needed for a functioning society. International bodies must continue to advocate for press freedom to ensure that Afghan media can operate without fear of censorship or persecution.
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