RASC News Agency: The Freedom of Expression Watch, in a statement released on Wednesday, December 25, expressed profound alarm over the Taliban’s decision to rebrand Afghanistan’s state television into “Radio Sharia.” This move, the organization stated, represents a deliberate and systematic attempt to stifle free media and reshape the country’s media landscape. The statement revealed that three internal sources within Afghanistan’s state-run radio and television network confirmed the Taliban’s intention to replace state television broadcasts in Kabul and various provinces with radio stations. According to Freedom of Expression Watch, the Taliban have already issued a public tender for installing transmitters for the “National Radio” and “Voice of Sharia Radio” in Kabul and across several provinces.
The statement emphasized, “This initiative signifies the Taliban’s systematic endeavor to suppress and alter the essence of this historic media institution. Since its inception in 1977, Afghanistan’s state television has served as a cornerstone for public information, the dissemination of government policies, and the celebration of the nation’s diverse cultural heritage.” The organization further highlighted the strict media restrictions imposed by the Taliban, particularly through the enforcement of laws prohibiting the broadcast of images depicting living beings. These measures have led to the complete suspension of state television broadcasts in the provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, and Uruzgan.
The Taliban’s suppressive policies extend beyond state television, targeting other visual media platforms as well. The statement noted, “Such restrictions underscore the Taliban’s concerted effort to silence independent media voices and erase Afghanistan’s cultural and informational diversity. This alarming trajectory not only jeopardizes freedom of expression and access to information but also undermines decades of progress made by the Afghanistani people in establishing independent media institutions.” Freedom of Expression Watch called on media organizations, independent journalists, and advocates for press freedom to stand united against these oppressive measures, which threaten to dismantle the foundations of free speech and unrestricted access to information in Afghanistan.
