Taliban minister bans media coverage during Herat visit, extends restrictions nationwide

Khaled Hanafi, the Acting Minister for the Taliban government, restricted journalists from taking photos or filming during his recent official visit to Herat, local sources report. During the visit, held at the Maulana Balkhi Hall, Hanafi met with local Taliban officials and religious scholars to discuss governance and policy issues. However, both private media and Taliban-controlled outlets were barred from documenting the event visually.

This incident follows a pattern observed in Hanafi’s recent trips to other provinces, such as Nangarhar and Laghman, where similar restrictions were imposed on media coverage. The Taliban government, under Hanafi’s direction, has been enforcing strict policies against photographing or filming living beings, citing Islamic principles as the foundation for these prohibitions.

A Taliban spokesperson confirmed that these restrictions are intended to be enforced across Afghanistan, signaling a nationwide directive against visual media coverage at government events. This move further constrains press freedoms, limiting independent documentation and transparency regarding government activities. Journalists and media groups have raised concerns over the increasing limitations, viewing the policy as part of a broader effort to control the flow of information and restrict public access to government affairs.

Observers say this shift could have serious implications for media operations in Afghanistan, as authorities in multiple provinces have already enforced similar limitations, challenging the ability of journalists to work openly and independently under the Taliban's administration.