Taliban authorities shut media station for airing background music in broadcasts

Taliban authorities have closed Radio Zhman TV in Afghanistan’s southeastern Khost province, alleging it violated the media policies established since their 2021 takeover by using background music in broadcasts.

Reports say the decision was reached during a commission meeting at Khost’s Directorate of Information and Culture, with representatives from the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, local intelligence, police, and other officials.

The commission determined that using light background music during a social issues program breached the Taliban‘s regulations, which classify music as inappropriate.

Reacting to the suspension, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) called it a “significant infringement on the fundamental rights of free media” and cautioned that escalating restrictions could seriously impact local media freedom.

Under Afghanistan’s media law, journalists and media organizations are entitled to operate without undue interference, and authorities are expected to uphold these freedoms, according to the AFJC.

Radio Zhman, launched in 2017, broadcasts on political, social, cultural, and educational topics from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving audiences in Khost and parts of neighboring Paktia province.

This is the second local media outlet recently shut down in Khost. Gharghasht Radio was closed on October 31, but later allowed to resume on the condition it ceased broadcasting music entirely.