RASC News Agency: Following the directive issued by the Taliban governor for Kandahar Province, which prohibits the photography and videography of individuals, several journalists in the region have stated that Taliban officials are unwilling to participate in video interviews. Reporters on Monday, Feb 19, conveyed to the media that despite this, the Taliban group has advised journalists to refrain from reporting on this matter.
Mullah Shirin, the Taliban governor for Kandahar Province, on Sunday, Feb 18, through an official memorandum to the authorities of the group’s administrative bodies, ordered refraining from capturing images and videos in their formal and informal gatherings. Following this directive, the Taliban governor’s office in Kandahar continues to abstain from publishing images in their newsletters, opting only for textual content.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Taliban seek to exert control over the media in Afghanistan akin to their previous rule. Previously, the Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that the Taliban, without any consultation with journalists, have prepared at least six specialized or media-related “guidelines” and deemed compliance mandatory.
According to the center, these guidelines, lacking clear legal definitions and containing vague and ambiguous clauses, impose severe and escalating restrictions on independent media and journalists.
