Media organizations and activists have strongly condemned the Taliban’s move to convert Afghanistan’s national television into a radio station, viewing it as part of a broader strategy to suppress free expression and erase cultural diversity in the country.
According to insider information from three employees at Afghanistan’s national radio and television, the Taliban plan to turn the national television network into a series of radio stations. Recently, the group announced a tender for installing transmitters for “National Radio” and “Voice of Shariat Radio,” signaling their intent to reshape state media into ideological tools.
The Afghanistan Free Expression House, a prominent organization advocating for press freedom, has denounced the Taliban’s efforts to transform the national television into “Shariat Radio.” The organization highlighted the Taliban’s strict media regulations, including a ban on broadcasting depictions of living beings, which has already led to the cessation of television broadcasts in southern provinces such as Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, and Uruzgan. Media activists have expressed grave concerns, warning that the suppression extends beyond national television, targeting other visual media outlets in an apparent attempt to stifle voices of free expression nationwide.
Freedom of press advocates argue that these actions represent a severe threat not only to free expression but also to decades of efforts by the Afghan people to establish independent media and preserve the country’s cultural identity. Various organizations have issued statements urging the international community, human rights groups, and supporters of free media to take immediate steps to counter the Taliban’s repressive policies.
These developments have intensified concerns over the Taliban’s broader agenda to control narratives and diminish platforms that foster pluralistic discussions, marking a significant setback for media independence and cultural preservation in Afghanistan.
