Kabul: Afghanistan's Taliban authorities had issued guidelines on Afghan media after it had proliferated for 20 years under the Western-backed governments that ruled the country until August 15, 2021, when the Islamists regained power.
Giving a major blow to women's rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban ordered all television channels to stop airing shows featuring women artists. Additionally, the Taliban ordered all television journalists to wear hijabs while presenting their reports.
The directive came from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and was the first of its kind issued to the country's media networks.
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In its guidelines, the Ministry also prevented the channels from airing programs where the Prophet Mohammad or other revered figures were shown.
Ministry Spokesman Hakif Mohajir said, "These are not rules but a religious guideline."
The new guidelines also prevent the television stations from showing men who are considered indecently exposed or not covered from chest to knees.
Notably, the Taliban issued the guidelines, which were widely circulated in social media on Sunday even after they promised to rule the country moderately this time.
Earlier, in its long list of cruelty against women, the Taliban beheaded a National team volleyball player and harassed several Afghan journalists despite promising to uphold women's freedom.
Moreover, the Taliban set rules for women's attire at University and partitioned the classrooms creating a wall between the boys and girls.
