Taliban feels threatened by growing Afghan media, declares major news networks 'military targets'

The 'military commission' of the Taliban in Afghanistan has declared two major Afghan news networks as military targets.

The statement published on Facebook attributed to the Taliban's media arm 'Al Emarah TV' and shared across several social media accounts associated with the insurgent group, stated, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from now onwards does not recognize Tolo and 1 TV channels as media outlets but designates them as military objectives due to their disrespectful and hostile actions towards the Afghan Mujahid nation."

Referring to them as 'spearheads among propaganda networks', the statement goes on to accuse them of ridiculing 'religious and cultural norms', encouraging 'obscenity and lewdness', promoting 'irreligiousness, immorality, violence, gambling, intermixing and profanity' among other things.

Their justification is the coverage of the recent conflict in Kunduz province, during which the Taliban took over the capital city of the province for a few days. Taliban disapproved of media reports alleging rape of students at the women hostel in Kunduz, following an Amnesty International report. Read the whole report here

"These television networks continually published this fabricated report despite the fact that the citizens of Kunduz city have strongly rejected these claims," states the Taliban's Facebook note vehemently denying rape accusations. "They want to harm the honour and prestige of this nation with such open lies which can easily be discerned by all," the declaration further claims.

While this isn't first time the Taliban has issued such a threat over displeasure of news reporting, it perhaps is the largest against the Afghan press community, extending to all employees of the two media houses. "Henceforth no employee, anchor, office, news team and reporter of these TV channels holds any immunity," they state. In December 2014 too, the Taliban had targeted those journalists who they believed supported 'western values'.

The journalists targeted have stood defiant in the face of these threats, taking to social media to condemn the statement. However, concerns for their safety remain primary to not just their employers and the Afghan government, but also to their family members. "My parents are insisting that I leave the country immediately," said Sayeed (name changed to protect identity) - one of the journalists who has been threatened.

Sayeed has been featured in a video compiled by the Taliban identifying employees of the two news groups, making them vulnerable to attacks.

His family isn't the only one who have considered escaping the country to stay alive. Unfortunately, such security concerns have often led Afghan journalists to flee the country. Last month, there were 23 journalists among Afghans fleeing the country. 

"While I’m not going to leave the country, I'm taking security measures to protect myself and my family," he said.

While there is always a security concern, the press in Afghanistan also often faces intimidation from official defence and government apparatus.

"Negative coverage is no justification for targeting civilians," writes Ahmad Shuja, researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW). "The Taliban's claims of having the 'utmost respect for independent and impartial news outlets' rings hollow when they threaten to target journalists for their work," he says in his dispatch on the HRW website.

Media in Afghanistan has grown substantially since the fall of Taliban, and the insurgent group has often tried to suppress media and journalists over the years, local as well as international, with threats and, in some cases, actual violence.

"The Taliban have never respected journalists," Sayeed added. "They've killed several journalists over the last 15 years. Just last year, they killed Sardar Ahmad along with his wife and two kids," he recollected, referring to the Taliban attack on Hotel Kabul Serena on March 20, 2014 that left nine dead, including the AFP journalist Saradar Mohammad his wife and two children aged six five years.

While both the targeted media houses have condemned the attack, the government has extended support to the journalists.

"The government of Afghanistan is committed to supporting media and freedom of presses in the country," reiterated Javid Faisal, deputy spokesperson to Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the Chief Executive of Afghanistan. "We are committed to our pledge for providing any assistance and support to media to ensure protection, growth and better working environment for media within the country," he assured.

"We expect all parties to respect freedom of speech and let the media be the voice of those in need, voiceless and helpless," he added.