European Parliament Member Says Taliban Restricting Smartphones to Hide Repression

Hana Newman, who serves as a member of the European Parliament, has claimed that the Taliban are attempting to conceal the reality of repression in Afghanistan by imposing limits on the use of smartphones. She argued that such measures are designed to prevent the spread of evidence showing human rights violations.

In her statement shared on the social media site X, Newman pointed out that videos capturing women's protests, pictures documenting abuse, and copies of leaked decrees have the potential to undermine the Taliban's authority. The European lawmaker suggested that the restrictions represent a broader effort to control information and to silence those who oppose the current administration.

The order from the Taliban prohibits government employees from using smartphones. There are also reports indicating that in certain locations, members of the Taliban have been involved in the destruction of these devices. Footage available on various social media platforms illustrates Taliban officials declaring the new rules and subsequently smashing the phones.

Observers have analyzed the policy as part of an initiative to regulate the dissemination of information. This comes at a time when protests have occurred in the city of Herat. Those demonstrations were sparked by the detention of women accused of wearing inappropriate hijab.