Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Taliban has allowed a private Afghan television channel, Arezo TV, to resume operations after a nearly three-month suspension, marking a rare reversal in its crackdown on media freedom. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) welcomed the decision but warned that press freedom in Afghanistan remains in peril, as the Taliban continues to exert control over independent journalism.
Arezo TV, a Dari-language satellite channel, was shut down in December 2024 after Taliban intelligence and morality police raided its Kabul office, confiscated equipment, and arrested seven employees. The workers were later released after promising to appear in court, and a recent ruling cleared them of any charges, allowing the channel to reopen without conditions.
Taliban officials claimed the closure was necessary to “preserve Islamic values” and accused Arezo TV of airing content that violated Afghan traditions. An anonymous official from the Ministry of Information and Culture alleged the channel had broadcast “vulgar” Indian dramas and Iranian media content, prompting the shutdown.
While the AFJC urged the Taliban to uphold Afghanistan’s Media Law and ensure media outlets can operate freely, experts caution that the reopening of Arezo TV is more about controlling narratives than restoring press freedom. The Taliban’s ongoing restrictions on independent journalism and its enforcement of strict Islamic values continue to stifle free expression in Afghanistan.
