World Television Day and the Crisis of Visual Media in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan

As World Television Day approaches, reports reveal a deepening crisis for visual media in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Organizations such as the Afghanistan Journalists Center, Nai (Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan), and the Afghanistan Journalists Protection Committee have highlighted the restrictions imposed by the Taliban and their severe impact on the media landscape. These groups are calling on the international community to support media freedom in the country.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center, in its report dated November 21, 2024, stated that half of Afghanistan’s visual media outlets have ceased operations since the Taliban’s return to power. Over the past two years, the Taliban have introduced a series of directives that have directly impacted media operations, especially visual media.

Some of the major restrictions include:

•Banning women from working at state television networks

•Prohibiting the appearance of women in shows and series

•Requiring women to wear masks on television

•Banning the broadcast of international television programs

 

Additionally, the Taliban have enforced measures such as banning music, segregating women and men in media workplaces, and pressuring journalists to portray the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan.

 

These directives have significantly reduced the operations of independent and critical media. Media outlets and journalists who defy these rules face threats, arrests, and even forced shutdowns.

According to Nai, 52% of visual media outlets in Afghanistan have ceased operations since the Taliban’s takeover, primarily due to economic hardships and restrictive policies. The organization reported that 77 television stations have stopped broadcasting due to financial difficulties.

The reports also spotlight the plight of women journalists. Many female journalists have been barred from professional activities under Taliban rule. These restrictions have forced many to flee the country, while those who remain face constant threats and pressures.

International organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have expressed grave concerns about the state of media and journalists in Afghanistan. These organizations have called for urgent and effective international measures to safeguard media freedom in the country.

 

The Afghanistan Journalists Protection Committee has issued a statement urging for “immediate and practical support for Afghan media and journalists” and warned that without such support, the future of free expression in the country is at grave risk.

The current situation underscores the severe challenges facing media, particularly visual media, under Taliban rule. The restrictions and pressures on media outlets and journalists, especially women, have led to the closure of numerous media organizations and significantly weakened the country’s media landscape.

 

In such dire circumstances, international support is more crucial than ever to preserve media freedom and uphold the rights of journalists in Afghanistan. Without this support, Afghanistan risks descending into a media blackout, silencing not only journalists but also the voices of its people.