Taliban has also asked local provinces to take strict action against journalists who are criticising Taliban officials. All the programmes featuring women have been prohibited.
The Taliban has asked Afghan news channels not to publish any anti-Taliban news or criticise the Taliban officials in fresh dictates. The women have been issued new dress codes and are not permitted to work in news channels without hijab (full veil).
On Monday (November 22), the Human Rights Watch expressed its concern over the new guidelines issued by the Taliban.
The Taliban has strictly warned that those not following the dictates will be hanged. The terrorist group sent intelligence officials to the offices of all the media houses to ensure the new dictates are strictly followed.
"The Taliban's new media regulations and threats against journalists reflect broader efforts to silence all criticism of Taliban rule… The disappearance of any space for dissent and worsening restrictions for women in the media and arts is devastating." ANI quoted associate Asia director at HRW Patricia Gossman.
Several journalists have complained about the search and torture by the Taliban after they published reports criticising the terrorist group.
Fearing for their lives, the media houses in Afghanistan have started following the Taliban's command. "After they threatened us with death, we published what they said. Now we broadcast Quranic verses at the beginning of the programs and naat [Islamic songs] because we fear for our safety", ANI quoted one Afghanistan journalist.
Many media houses in Afghanistan have closed their offices, and the remaining few are working from home.
"Despite the Taliban's promises to allow media that 'respected Islamic values' to function, the reality for Afghanistan is that journalists live in fear of a knock on the door or a summons from the authorities," HRW's Gossman said.
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August this year, it had promised that it would allow the press to continue its work but within the ambit of Sharia law.
Many experts had expressed apprehension saying it was just an eyewash and there would be no change in the conduct of the Taliban.
After capturing Kabul, the Taliban did a press conference, and the propagandists tried to spread the message that it was a sign of the changed Taliban. But nothing changed on the ground.
The Taliban has been brutally killing all the dissenters, and the testimony to that has been provided by those who have been lucky to escape Afghanistan.
In September, the Taliban shot dead a pregnant police officer in front of her family and children. In another reported incident, the Taliban gouged out the eyes of another police official.
The Taliban had declared an amnesty for all those who had worked for the previous Ashraf Ghani regime. But it turned out that it was also just an eyewash.
