Afghanistan Journalist’s Center: seven radios have been shut down by direct order or due to Taliban's restrictions

Jumhuri Mudara: Afghanistan journalist’s center says that in the past year, seven radio stations have been shut down either by direct order of the Taliban or due to restrictions imposed by the group of the Taliban on the media in Afghanistan.

In a report released on February 13, marking world radio day, the restrictions on radio stations have increased, and currently, several radio employees are imprisoned in Taliban’s jail.

Today, Thursday, February 13, is world radio day.

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, named this day as World Radio Day in 2011 during its 36th general conference.

According to Afghanistan journalist’s center report, since the Taliban’s return to power, media freedom – especially for radio stations – has been continuously restricted, and the imposition of media restriction is on the rise.

Findings from the Afghanistan Journalist's center indicated that the past three years, the Taliban officials had issued at least 22 directives or decrees related to the media, which have specifically impacted radio operations.

The organization notes that despite the increasing availability of the internet and access to information through social media, radio remains a widely followed media. However, with the Taliban’s return to power, media freedom has been severely restricted.

According to Afghanistan Journalist's center, six media workers, including three employees from two independent radio stations, are currently imprisoned by the Taliban.

Afghanistan Journalist’s center has urged the Taliban to reconsider their decisions regarding free media, especially radio stations, and to release imprisoned media workers and allow radio stations to operate freely.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s ministry of information and culture, in a message marking world radio day, stated that the Taliban supports.