The Taliban’s recent vow to impose a ban on images of humans and animals in Afghan media marks another step in their wider campaign to implement Sharia law across the country. This move comes after the group initially promised moderation following their seizing power in 2021, but has since imposed many restrictions, including the removal of images of women from public spaces and a ban on “immoral” films and musical instruments.
The Taliban’s spokesman for the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, Saiful Islam Khyber, explained that the law applies to all of Afghanistan and will be implemented gradually. He also emphasized that coercion would not be used in enforcing the ban, with officials focusing on persuading people to understand the Islamic basis for prohibiting the depiction of living things.
Despite their intentions, Taliban officials and government agencies, as well as media outlets operating within Afghanistan, continue to regularly post photos of people on their websites and social media platforms. Khyber told AFP that Afghan authorities have started working on implementing restrictions in some provinces, with the southern Kandahar province previously banning taking pictures and making videos of “living things.” However, this rule did not extend to media outlets operating within the region.
The Taliban’s history of governing Afghanistan dates back to the 1990s, during which time they controlled most of the country amid civil war. They were eventually driven out of major cities by the US-led invasion in 2001 following the September 11th terrorist attacks. The group waged a 20-year guerilla war against American troops and the UN-backed government in Kabul, ultimately recapturing the Afghan capital during the withdrawal of Western forces in August 2021, forcing President Ashraf Ghani to flee the country.
While the Taliban’s government has not been officially recognized by the United Nations, it maintains working ties with several countries, including Russia.