An Afghan television station has been closed down due to accusations of disseminating inappropriate content and having affiliations with exiled media, according to a government official.
The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has claimed that Arezo TV, located in Kabul, was collaborating with media organizations based outside of Afghanistan while reportedly compensating temporary workers to dub what were described as “vulgar serials and programs” that contradict Islamic values and Afghan customs.
Spokesperson Saif ur Rahman Khyber indicated that financial support for the station’s controversial programming was being channeled from foreign media outlets. Although he did not specify which exiled media were involved, many operate under significant restrictions or outright bans currently. Just last May, the government cautioned reporters against engaging with Afghanistan International.
Khyber stated, “To correct society and guide it toward the right path, it was imperative to thoroughly investigate these issues.” He emphasized that media is free to operate as long as it adheres to Islamic principles and the interests of the nation.
Reports from the Afghanistan Journalists Centre noted that on Wednesday, police and personnel from the ministry conducted a raid on Arezo TV, which resulted in the mistreatment of staff members, seizure of equipment including mobile devices, and the arrest of seven individuals.
As of now, no representatives from Arezo TV have provided comments on the situation.
According to a recent U.N. report, since the Taliban’s resurgence in power three years ago, there have been 256 documented instances of arbitrary arrests or detentions of journalists, alongside 130 allegations of torture and mistreatment.
Afghanistan continues to perform poorly in terms of press freedom, with Reporters Without Borders ranking the country an alarming 178th out of 180 in its latest index. This is a notable decline from its position of 152 last year.