POLITICS — June 16, 2026
Taliban military court orders punishment for government employees using smartphones
The directive applies to both workplace and home use, with violators referred to military courts and devices to be destroyed.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
A letter from Sardar Mohammad Abolfaizan, deputy of the Taliban military court, instructs heads of military courts in eight zones to punish government employees who use smartphones.
The order calls for Sharia and legal punishment, including confiscation and breaking of the devices. It takes effect from 27 Jawza, the first of Muharram.
The ban applies to both workplace and home use for all recipients of salaries from the Taliban administration. Special monitoring forms record names, positions, workplaces, telecommunications networks and contact numbers to track compliance.
Audio messages from Taliban officials have urged members to destroy their phones.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single source provides direct, concrete evidence including the text of an official letter with named deputy (Sardar Mohammad Abolfaizan), specific dates, zones, and audio recordings; on-record attribution and checkable implementation details make the reporting of the order reliable.
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
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Afghanistan International
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Reported straight
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Politics — Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, smartphone ban, military court, government employees
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