{"id":1051409,"date":"2021-11-24T09:58:43","date_gmt":"2021-11-24T14:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1051409"},"modified":"2021-11-24T09:58:47","modified_gmt":"2021-11-24T14:58:47","slug":"afghanistan-taliban-takeover-shuts-down-over-250-media-outlets-after-100-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/afghanistan-taliban-takeover-shuts-down-over-250-media-outlets-after-100-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan: Taliban Takeover Shuts Down over 250 Media Outlets After 100 Days"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fafghanistan-taliban-takeover-shuts-down-over-250-media-outlets-after-100-days%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1051409&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">The Afghan broadcaster Tolo News reported on Tuesday, the 100th day since the Taliban terrorist group took control of the country, that the jihadists had prompted the shutdown of at least 257 media outlets in the country, citing an Afghan NGO.<\/p>\n<p>Taliban jihadist representatives have insisted since their seizure of power in August that the organization would respect the rights of journalists while in power and set up a committee to investigate crimes against journalists shortly after taking over Kabul. Journalists on the ground have reported consistent physical attacks and roadblocks to them doing their jobs since August, however, and the committee has, unsurprisingly, not acted to hold any of the assailants accountable.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>The Taliban became the de facto government of Afghanistan in August after launching a terror <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/07\/29\/taliban-attacks-biden-afghanistan\/\">campaign<\/a> in April to replace the U.S.-backed government. The campaign ended on August 15 when former Presiden Ashraf Ghani published a pre-recorded video vowing to fight for the country, then fled. Taliban jihadists stormed Kabul and have remained entrenched there since.<\/p>\n<p>The terrorist organization has since insisted that it is the legitimate government of Afghanistan, vowing an \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/08\/18\/martel-the-world-is-falling-talibans-inclusive-language-hoax\/\">inclusive<\/a>\u201d administration and demanding the world, including the United States, fund its success. President Joe Biden, whose decision to extend the 20-year Afghan War prompted the Taliban takeover, was reportedly considering a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/11\/10\/biden-considers-road-map-for-normalizing-relations-with-taliban\/\">road map<\/a>\u201d to recognizing the Taliban as the true government of the country as of this month.<\/p>\n<p>Tolo News, itself a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/08\/19\/women-journalist-taliban-banning-women-from-going-outside\/\">target<\/a> of Taliban surveillance, cited the Afghan NGO&nbsp;Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan to log over 257 media outlets no longer operational in the country as a result of the Taliban\u2019s return to power.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cNAI, an organization supporting media in Afghanistan, said that since the Islamic Emirate rule, over 257 media outlets have ceased operating in the country due to financial challenges as well as restrictions. This includes print, radio and TV stations,\u201d Tolo <a href=\"https:\/\/tolonews.com\/afghanistan\/attack-mediajournalists-175586\">observed<\/a>. \u201cAccording to NAI, over 70 percent of media workers have become jobless or left the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cReports show that during these 100 days, six reporters have lost their lives in various incidents including attacks by unknown armed men, explosions, committing suicide and traffic incidents,\u201d the outlet continued.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18884802\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" readability=\"35\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1236225156.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-18884802\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1236225156-1024x681-1.jpg\" alt width=\"990\" height=\"658\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid addresses a press conference at government media and information center in Kabul city, on October 30, 2021. (HECTOR RETAMAL\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Tolo quoted several Afghan journalists expressing pessimism about the future of their trade in the country under the Taliban terrorist organization.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRecently access to information have been limited which has caused problems for reporters,\u201d journalist Abdurraqib Fayaz told Tolo. \u201cThe recent statement of the Ministry of Virtue and Vice has increased the concerns over restrictions of media activities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe media faces financial problems, and many media workers have lost their jobs,\u201d another journalist identified as Jan Aqa Hakimi said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>The statement Fayaz mentioned is a Taliban decree that, among other limitations, enforces a ban on journalists publishing content deemed un-Islamic. Taliban terrorists decide what falls under that category.<\/p>\n<p>In September, the Taliban\u2019s head of the \u201cGovernment Media and Information Center,\u201d similarly published a decree of 11 rules that journalists must follow. The first three rules ban content that defies Islamic values, defames \u201cnational figures,\u201d and violates the privacy of its subjects. Among the most alarming on the list, however, were a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.voanews.com\/a\/what-taliban-s-publishing-broadcasting-directives-mean-for-afghan-media-\/6253972.html\">rule<\/a> that requires journalists to submit all \u201cdetailed\u201d content to the Taliban regime before publishing it for approval.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>One rule ominously demands \u201ccaution\u201d from journalists if considering content that may \u201chave a negative impact on the public\u2019s attitude,\u201d according to Voice of America.<\/p>\n<p>The strict limitations contradict statements made by top Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid during his first press conference after the fall of Kabul in August.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPrivate media can continue to be free and independent, they can continue their activities \u2013 with some requests for the media,\u201d Mujahid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2021\/8\/17\/transcript-of-talibans-first-press-conference-in-kabul\">said<\/a> at the time. While Mujahid\u2019s \u201crequests\u201d were similar to the list of rules \u2013 \u201cnothing should be against Islamic values;\u201d \u201cmedia should not work against these national values\u201d \u2013 the use of the term \u201crequest\u201d suggested minimal enforcement.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>While Mujahid vowed to allow journalists to work, Taliban underlings began door-to-door raids looking for known journalists to persecute, reporters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/08\/16\/reports-taliban-searching-door-door-journalists\/\">denounced<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"13.36170212766\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Taliban started door to door search looking for govt officials, former police &amp; security forces members &amp; those who worked for foreign countries NGOs or infrastructures in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>At least 3 journalists&#8217; houses were searched in the last hour.<\/p>\n<p>Kabul is now becoming deadly..<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 47 \uea00 Mustafa (@CombatJourno) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CombatJourno\/status\/1427220857940758530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Women in journalism were the first to face persecution. Less than a week into the Taliban rule,&nbsp;Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) anchor&nbsp;Shabnam Khan Dawran revealed that Taliban terrorists would not let her into her own office building.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wanted to return to work, but unfortunately they did not allow me to work. They told me that the regime has changed and you cannot work,\u201d Dawran <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/08\/19\/women-journalist-taliban-banning-women-from-going-outside\/\">narrated<\/a> at the time, according to her former employer Tolo.<\/p>\n<p>The Taliban hijacked the RTA airwaves almost immediately.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere has been a change in the programs, they broadcast their desired programs, there are no female presenters and female journalists,\u201d a journalist identified only as \u201cKhadija\u201d told Tolo News.<\/p>\n<p>International journalists also reported persecution. Reporters for organizations like Deutsche Welle and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/world\/biden-admin-vows-help-500-afghan-journalists-u-s-funded-n1278393\">Voice of America<\/a> expressed panic and denounced Taliban raids apparently seeking to harm them.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_18884826\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" readability=\"36\"><a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/media\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1236019214.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-18884826\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1236019214-1024x683-1.jpg\" alt width=\"990\" height=\"660\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Afghan women chant slogans and hold placard during a women\u2019s rights protest in Kabul on October 21, 2021. The Taliban violently cracked down on media coverage of a women\u2019s rights protest in Kabul on October 21 morning, beating several journalists. (BULENT KILIC\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe Taliban have raided the homes of at least three DW journalists, Nematullah Hemat of the private television station Ghargasht TV is believed to have been kidnapped by the Taliban,\u201d Deutsche Welle revealed in August,&nbsp;\u201cand Toofan Omar, the head of the private radio station Paktia Ghag Radio, was, according to government officials, targeted and shot dead by Taliban fighters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In September, Taliban jihadists viciously <a href=\"https:\/\/media.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/09\/09\/afghan-journalists-taliban-beatings\/\">assaulted<\/a> two journalists with the Afghan newspaper&nbsp;<em>Etilaat Roz<\/em> for attempting to cover a protest against the new regime.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the Taliban put his foot on my head, crushed my face against the concrete. They kicked me in the head\u2026 I thought they were going to kill me,\u201d photographer Nematullah Naqdi said of his experience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey told me \u2018You cannot film\u2019,\u201d he recalled. \u201cThey arrested all those who were filming and took their phones.\u201d<br \/>More recently, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cpj.org\/2021\/11\/journalists-shot-beaten-and-detained-in-afghanistan\/\">denounced<\/a> the shooting of known Afghan journalists by \u201cunidentified gunmen,\u201d which the Taliban has done nothing to address. CPJ also confirmed another incident in which Taliban jihadists engaged in the gang beating of a third journalist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Taliban\u2019s stated commitment to press freedom has been crumbling since the group took power, and any remaining credibility will hinge on whether it thoroughly investigates the violent attacks on journalists Abdul Khaliq Hussaini and Alireza Sharifi and brings those responsible to justice,\u201d Steven Butler, CPJ\u2019s Asia program coordinator, said this month. \u201cThe Taliban leadership must also investigate its members\u2019 attack on journalist Zahidullah Husainkhil, and ensure that those who unjustly beat and detained him are held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Follow Frances Martel on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637839367589000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1xZ9qF8gkPD0iPE8F5_2Jk\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1637839367589000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2fa3a0oYmUDQkjH4detcuH\">Twitter.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Afghan broadcaster Tolo News reported on Tuesday, the 100th day since the Taliban terrorist group took control of the country, that the jihadists had prompted the shutdown of at &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1051409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1051409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1051409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1051409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1051409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1051409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1051409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}