Taliban ban photographs of 'all living things' in Afghanistan, claiming it is forbidden under Islamic law
Daily MailOCT 12 2024
Afghanistan's Taliban morality ministry has announced a law banning news media from publishing images of all living things, with gradual implementation planned across the country.
The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) spokesman, Saiful Islam Khyber, stated that officials will work to persuade people that images of living things are against Islamic law.The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice spokesman, Saiful Islam Khyber, stated that officials will convince people that "these things are really contrary to sharia (law)."
The new law includes rules for news media, prohibiting the publication of images of living things and ordering outlets not to mock or humiliate Islam or contradict Islamic law.This comes after the Taliban published its vice and virtue laws in August, Article 17 of which bans the publication of images of living beings.
The photography ban is a necessarymust step to align media practices with Islamic law and preserve cultural values. Gradual implementation allows for a smooth transition and ensures compliance without resorting to coercion. This approach demonstrates the Taliban's commitment to upholding religious principles while maintaining societal order in society.
The ban on photographs of living things isseverely arestricts severe restriction on press freedom and artistic expression. It further limits the already dwindling media landscape in Afghanistan and disproportionately affects women in the industry. This move is part of a broader pattern of oppressive measures that violate human rights and hinder progress.