RASC News Agency: The Afghanistan Journalists Center has reported that the licenses of 17 local media outlets in Nangarhar have been suspended by the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology due to unpaid frequency taxes. According to a statement released by the Afghanistan Journalists Center on Monday, August 5th, the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has warned these media outlets that they will not be allowed to operate until their outstanding taxes are paid.
The center expressed serious concern over this issue, calling for a reconsideration of the decision and fair treatment of local media by the Taliban. The statement, citing sources, added that the suspension of frequency licenses for private radio and television stations in Nangarhar was communicated to media owners both verbally and in writing by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (ATRA).
ATRA stated that the refusal of local media owners in Nangarhar to pay frequency taxes and renew their frequency licenses has led to the enforcement of Article 37 of the Telecommunications Services Law, prohibiting these radio and television stations from operating. The Afghanistan Journalists Center noted that the decision to suspend frequency licenses for indebted radio and television stations was made on September 24, 2023, and is applicable across all provinces of the country.
The center further explained that local radio and television stations in Nangarhar, as a first-grade province, must annually pay 108,000 kabuli rupees and an additional $25 in ancillary costs to renew their frequency licenses. Local sources indicated that all local media outlets are in debt, with the duration of their debts ranging from one year to over ten years.
It is worth mentioning that since their takeover of the country, the Taliban have consistently detained journalists on various pretexts and imposed stringent restrictions on the activities of journalists and domestic media.
