Taliban warn media in Khost against airing images of living beings: sources

Local sources in Khost said Taliban Promotion of Virtue agents visited television offices and instructed media officials to refrain from broadcasting images of living beings. Media officials warned that compliance would halt television operations.

The sources reported the incident occurred on Thursday, 30 Dalu, with the order conveyed orally. Earlier this year, in the month of Jadi, Taliban authorities in Khost had asked media officials and departmental spokespersons to avoid video interviews.

As a result, images and videos of Taliban administrative meetings will no longer be published, the sources added. Khost has one state-run television and three private outlets.

Taliban authorities are enforcing the restriction under Article 17 of their Promotion of Virtue law. The ban on images of living beings has been implemented in at least 25 provinces since Asad 1403.

Separately, the Olympic, Physical Education and Sports Directorate in Takhar province stated that sports activities will be suspended during Ramadan per instructions from the Taliban's central General Presidency of Olympics. A memo from the directorate directed local managements and federation officials to prevent competitions until the end of Ramadan, citing existing policies.

Sources added that the Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue has banned "Ramadan Cup" cricket tournaments across all provinces. These matches had been held annually in nearly every province during Ramadan.