After being hit by legal ambiguity and strict restrictions on press freedom in the last two years, the Taliban authorities have de facto submitted a new draft Afghan media law for their supreme leader to approve.
The draft, which has remained top secret, would regulate the Islamist leadership’s conflict-ridden relationship with journalists and state and private media agencies.
Without a parliament or a constitution in the self-declared Islamic Emirate of the Taliban, only their supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has unbridled power over the fate of laws in the country, including laws on new media.
In an exclusive interview with VOA, the main spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, revealed some of the details of the new law.
“About 70 percent, the media bill was taken from the old law,” said Mujahid, adding that the change was to align the law with Islamic sharia law. Media laws imposed under the previous Afghan administration also require that all media activities comply with Islamic law.
When asked about any gender-based restrictions in the new law, the Taliban spokesman denied there were any such restrictions in the new bill, and that “all citizens of Afghanistan” would be able to establish, manage and work for media entities.
Foreign media, including international broadcasters such as the BBC and Voice of America as well as freelance journalists, will be allowed to operate in Afghanistan provided they comply with the country’s laws.
Despite Afghanistan’s efforts to develop democratic institutions over the last two decades, media and press advocacy groups have thrived with funding and support from international donors.
However, the Taliban have shown deep suspicion of programs funded by the West to support democracy and human rights, and Mujahid did not clarify whether Afghan media would be allowed to receive funding from abroad.
“The law requires that the source of funding must be transparent,” he said firmly. (em/hr)