The Afghan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) has suspended the broadcast licenses of 14 media outlets in the eastern province of Nangarhar. The action, taken on July 22, affects 17 broadcast licenses and has raised concerns over press freedom in one of Afghanistan’s most populous regions.
Beh Lih Yi, CPJ Asia Program Coordinator, condemned the action, stating:
“Taliban officials must immediately reverse their decision to suspend the broadcast licenses of 14 active media outlets in Nangarhar province that collectively reach millions of people. The Taliban continues to exert pressure on media outlets to control their programming and broadcasting operations in Afghanistan. They must cease these tactics and allow the independent media to operate freely.”
The order mandates that affected outlets renew their licenses and pay any outstanding fees to avoid further revocation of their licenses, according to reports by CPJ, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AJC), and an anonymous journalist.
ATRA operates under the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The suspended outlets include:
TV and Radio Stations:
- Hamisha Bahar Radio and TV
- Sharq
- Arzasht
Radio Networks:
- The Nan
- Radio Safa
- Meena
- Radio Dost
- Mazal
- Manar
- Muram
- Haqiqat
- Hood
- Spinghar
- Ulfat
The ministry claims the suspensions are due to non-payment of taxes. Media outlets are required to settle their “frequency tax” dues before resuming operations. The center criticized the decision as unfair and urged the Taliban to reconsider.
Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, several media outlets, including private television station Enikas Radio and Nargis and Islah radios, have ceased operations in Nangarhar. AJC notes that 14 radio stations currently operate in the province, and warns that further tax delinquency could lead to additional closures.
The international community has expressed concern over the worsening press freedom in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to uphold media rights and allow journalists to operate without fear of censorship or reprisal.
