Following the Taliban's recent decree banning the publication of images depicting living beings, at least two Afghan television channels aired audio-only content today, according to reports.
In the province of Takhar, a local journalist—speaking on condition of anonymity—revealed that Mahi Nau, a TV channel, broadcast only audio, displaying its logo on the screen.
The journalist noted that a state-run broadcaster took a similar approach, opting for audio-only broadcasts even during its usual evening tourism programs instead of news.
On both channels, viewers saw only the station’s logo while listening to the audio content.
Another reporter disclosed that the Taliban had instructed all regional TV stations in Takhar to adopt radio-style broadcasts without visuals, warning of legal repercussions if the directive was disregarded.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced yesterday that producing and publishing images of living beings is un-Islamic.
Under Article 17 of the new law, the media is now prohibited from featuring such images.
Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, the ministry's spokesperson, stated that the law would be enforced nationwide, with an emphasis on persuasion rather than coercion.
The restrictions had already been in place in Kandahar, the residence of the Taliban's leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, where officials were barred from capturing images and videos of living beings. However, these limitations had not yet applied to the media.
During the Taliban's first rule from 1996 to 2001, a similar ban on television and images of living beings was in effect across Afghanistan.
