November 11, 2024
Khost, Khost Province – Radio "Zhman," a prominent local station in southeastern Khost province, has resumed operations after a five-day closure imposed by the Taliban’s virtue and vice authorities for broadcasting music. The station is now permitted to operate under the strict condition that it refrains from any music broadcasting. The Afghanistan Journalists Center has welcomed the resumption of Zhman Radio's operations, while condemning the earlier closure as a clear violation of press freedom that should not have occurred.
A local journalist, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, reported that Zhman Radio resumed broadcasting at approximately 2:00 PM on Monday, November 11, after management assured compliance with the media policies mandated by the virtue and vice authorities. The station was initially closed on November 6 by the provincial department of virtue and vice.
Prior to the closure, a meeting took place on October 26 in Khost, attended by representatives from the Departments of Information and Culture, Virtue and Vice, and Intelligence. After the meeting, media outlets were explicitly informed that all forms of music broadcasting are strictly prohibited.
In the last two weeks, three radio stations in Khost have been closed for failing to adhere to the restrictions imposed by the virtue and vice authorities. On October 10, Gharghasht Radio was closed for violating the music ban but resumed operations after a three-day closure under similar conditions. Lawang Educational Radio remains closed since November 6 for violating the ban on girls contacting media outlets and for broadcasting music.
AFJC, while welcoming the reopening of Radio Zhman, condemns the five-day closure as a clear violation of fundamental rights for independent media. AFJC expresses serious concern regarding the increasing pressure on media outlets to comply with such illogical restrictions and the resulting culture of self-censorship. The committee urges the Taliban’s decision-making authorities to allow media to operate in accordance with professional rights and the country's public media laws.