ISLAMABAD — Media outlets under Taliban control have begun refraining from displaying images of living creatures in several Afghan provinces as part of their adherence to recently enacted morality laws, a government official confirmed on Tuesday.

In August, the Ministry of Vice and Virtue introduced regulations that impact various facets of daily life, such as public transportation, grooming, media broadcast, and public festivities, all reflecting the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law. Among the provisions, Article 17 prohibits the dissemination of images depicting living beings, raising alarms about the implications for Afghan media and the freedom of the press.

Saif ul Islam Khyber, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, stated that government-operated media in provinces such as Takhar, Maidan Wardak, and Kandahar have received instructions to avoid airing images of anything considered to have a soul, which includes both humans and animals.

Khyber mentioned the ministry’s role in enforcing these morality laws, but did not elaborate on whether these restrictions apply to all forms of media, including international channels and websites, or are limited to Afghan entities. Additionally, he did not provide information regarding the enforcement mechanisms or any timelines for compliance with the new regulations.

Notably, no other countries with majority Muslim populations impose such stringent limitations on media, not even Iran or Saudi Arabia. During the Taliban’s previous regime in the late 1990s, they had altogether banned most forms of media, including television, radio, and newspapers.