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Dismantling freedom of expression: Live coverage of political shows banned

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Afghanistan is now considered as one of the worst countries for journalists and free flow of information. The Taliban since their return in 2021, has imposed several restrictions against media independence, freedom of expression and self-censorship.

In the latest move, the Taliban have banned live media coverage and ordered the media outlets to share their analytical and political programs with the Taliban officials before publication and publish them after their approval.

However, the decision has raised the concerns of media and journalists supporting institutions inside and outside Afghanistan. They have emphasized that with such a situation, the activities of the media, which continued for the past three years despite restrictions, for freedom of expression and people’s access to information, have been practically dismantled.

However, some journalists working covertly inside the country say that the Taliban see journalists as spies and want a tougher crackdown and wider restrictions on the media and journalists.

According to them, even the media that have been completely at the service of the Taliban’s propaganda are also suspected by the Taliban.

In an official meeting, the Taliban ordered the owners and top officials of the private media outlets in Kabul that they can no longer broadcast political programs live. According to this order, political programs must be recorded and published after the approval of the Taliban.

According to the sources, the Taliban have warned the domestic media that no media is allowed to broadcast content critical of the group’s policies and laws.

Also, the Organization Supporting Afghan Journalists confirmed this issue and released a statement, saying that Taliban have banned the live broadcasting of political programs in the media in a new move.

Taliban introduced their trusted people as experts in the analytical and political tv programs

The Taliban have introduced their trusted people as experts in the analytical and political programs of the media, according to the statement. It also said that the Taliban destroyed freedom of expression in the country by imposing severe censorship against the media.

“The Taliban hold frequent meetings with media managers in the center and provinces, and in these meetings, the decisions and restrictions of the Taliban are mainly communicated orally,” an Afghan journalist said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he told Harici that in these meetings, the media are instructed on what to publish and what not to publish. “In the latest case, the selection of guests in programs and the recording of political programs that used to be broadcast live and its publication after the approval of the Taliban, is another blow to freedom of expression,” he added.

Meanwhile, a female journalist said access to information has become very difficult for journalists, especially female journalists, and said that it is challenging to be a journalist.

She said that female reporters cannot work independently on any subject because they do not have access to information and it is difficult for them to obtain the necessary information to prepare reports and news.

Taliban called the critics as destructive tool, considered them “rebellious”

In the current situation, local journalists across provinces can only cover topics that are compatible with the spirit and accepted by the Taliban.

According to him, the Taliban have repeatedly warned that they will not accept journalists from media operating from outside the country. “Being a journalist under the rule of the Taliban is considered a crime and this group considers journalists as spies,” she said, wishing anonymity due to security reasons.

She added that if the Taliban find out that a local journalist is cooperating with the media in exile, the journalist’s life will lead to prison or death.

These concerns are raised while Taliban officials have previously prohibited criticizing and asking questions about the activities of this group and even considered the critic to be killed.

Taliban’s head of ministry of higher education, Mohammad Nadeem had recently said that the critics should stop and called them a destructive toll and should be killed. Those who destroy the Taliban regime with their tongue or pen are “rebellious and liable to be killed”, he added.

In the latest move, the Taliban’s Prime Minister’s Office has issued a declaration to further suppress freedom of expression and ban critical thinking, which has led to stricter control over the public intellectual and religious space in the country.

In this statement, the Taliban have prevented “controversial and contentious discussions and debates” and have emphasized that debates and discussions through the media should be avoided.

This is despite the fact that banning discussions and debates, instead of providing a logical solution to prevent conflict, will lead to the elimination of diversity and the continuation of stagnation and intellectual stagnation in the society.

Reporters Sans Frontier said that Taliban targeted journalists on a wider scale and multiplied the number of pretrial detentions.

According to the report on freedom of expression in the world in 2024, the situation of freedom of expression in Afghanistan has reached a state of crisis and Afghanistan has become one of the worst countries in this field. The Global Expression organization has announced that Afghanistan is in 155th place among 161 countries. The findings of this organization show that in the last five years, from 2018 to 2023, Afghanistan has fallen 47 places in the ranking of freedom of expression.

Reporters Without Borders has also announced that the Taliban have arrested 141 journalists in the last three years. According to this organization, the Taliban have targeted journalists on a wider scale and have multiplied the number of pre-trial detentions. Reporters Without Borders added that the Taliban treat journalists like criminals and imprison them under various pretexts.

In the past three years, the Taliban have imposed many restrictions against journalists, especially female journalists. According to the orders of the Taliban, women are prohibited from appearing in television shows and hosting programs without covering their faces. Also, the Taliban have banned women’s voices in the media in many provinces and ordered local radio stations not to broadcast women’s voices.

The Afghan Journalists Association has previously said that the Taliban have issued 17 media directives against the media law in the past three years, which include a wide range of media-related issues.

According to this organization, banning the coverage of civil protests, banning women from working on national radio and television, banning the music, covering women’s faces, banning women from appearing in plays, separating the positions of women and men in the media, banning women from interviewing men, and the media refraining from speaking, are the main opponents and critics of the Taliban.

MIDDLE EAST

Türkiye to double electricity exports to Iraq, reaching 600 MW

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Türkiye is set to double its electricity exports to Iraq, raising the capacity to 600 megawatts. As summer approaches, the Baghdad administration is seeking alternative energy sources to replace those from Iran, which is currently under US sanctions.

The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity announced on Sunday that “All necessary logistical and infrastructure preparations have been completed to increase the electricity supply capacity via the Iraq-Türkiye interconnection line to 600 megawatts.”

During a visit to Iraq, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar met with various officials, including Iraqi Minister of Electricity Ziyad Ali Fadel. The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity stated that Bayraktar confirmed the electricity supply would increase “in the coming months.”

The National reported that in July of last year, Baghdad and Ankara inaugurated the electricity line, which currently supplies 300 MW of electricity to Iraq.

Under the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran initiated by US President Donald Trump, Washington revoked the waiver last week that permitted Iraq to import energy from Iran.

Despite being the second-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Iraq struggles to meet its electricity demand due to decades of war, mismanagement, and corruption. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kazimi said in 2020 that the country had spent at least $60 billion on the electricity sector since the US-led invasion in 2003.

Baghdad sources approximately one-third of its electricity from Iran. Iraq buys 50 million cubic meters of natural gas and 500 megawatts of electricity daily from Iran. Iraqi officials have stated that US sanctions will only impact electricity imports.

Since 2018, Washington has granted waivers allowing Iraq to import energy from Iran for specific periods, typically ranging from 45 to 120 days. However, the US seeks to reduce Iraq’s reliance on Iran and continues to apply pressure to achieve this.

Iraq has taken steps in recent years to develop its natural gas resources and address the deficit in the electricity sector. According to the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, the country’s natural gas reserves are approximately 3.714 billion cubic meters.

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New Syrian constitution draft sparks controversy over Islamic law

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Ahmed Shara, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration in Syria, signed a declaration outlining the basic provisions of the interim constitution. The de facto administration in northern Syria, led by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDG) which signed an agreement with HTS earlier this week, rejected the articles in the draft constitution, stating that they are “identical to the laws on which the Ba’ath regime is based.”

In a statement made on behalf of the de facto administration, which calls itself the “Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria” under the leadership of the SDG, it was stated, “Months after the fall of the Ba’ath regime and despite the joy of the Syrian people who rebelled against this regime and its oppressive practices, a ‘Draft Constitution’ declaration was published in Damascus.”

The statement claimed that the articles in the draft constitution are “identical to the laws on which the Ba’ath regime is based” and are “far from the reality and diversity of Syria.”

It was stated that the draft constitution excludes the main components of Syria’s national structure, including Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, and other ethnic and religious groups, and that they reject and condemn the draft in its current form.

“This so-called constitutional framework does not reflect the demands of the Syrian people and its various communities,” the statement said. “The Syrian people revolted against such practices, and a return to this outdated approach will further deepen the nation’s wounds.”

The statement continued: “The correct constitution that should be in place is one prepared and agreed upon by all communities. We hope that some exclusive, narrow-minded views and thoughts do not take us back to square one. Only in this way can it serve as the foundation for a sustainable democratic future in Syria.”

An agreement was reached between the HTS administration and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDG) on Monday, March 10. The agreement, signed between Ahmed Shara, the leader of the HTS administration, and Mazlum Abdi, the leader of the SDG, envisioned the integration of the SDG into Syrian state institutions.

Yesterday, three days after the agreement with the SDG, Shara signed a 53-article declaration outlining the basic provisions of the interim constitution. According to the declaration, the constitution includes the article, “The religion of the President is Islam, and Islamic law (fiqh) is the main source of legislation.”

The constitution, which envisages a five-year transition period, grants Shara, who is declared the “interim President,” executive power, the authority to appoint one-third of the legislative body, and the power to appoint judges to the constitutional court. Shara will also have the power to declare a state of emergency. Additionally, all political party activities in the country are suspended until the political parties law comes into effect.

According to Anadolu Agency, the highlights of the interim constitutional declaration are as follows:

– Article 1: The Syrian Arab Republic is a fully independent and sovereign state. Its geographical and political unity is indivisible, and no part of it can be relinquished.

– Article 2: The religion of the President is Islam, and Islamic law (fiqh) is the main source of legislation. Freedom of belief is guaranteed. The state respects all heavenly religions and guarantees freedom of worship. However, this freedom must not violate public order.

– Article 6: All citizens have equal rights and obligations before the law. Discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or lineage is prohibited.

– Article 7: The personal status of religious communities is protected and applied in accordance with their beliefs and Sharia. It is regulated within the framework of existing laws.

– Article 8: The state regulates the national economy based on social justice, free competition, and the prevention of monopolies. It supports production sectors, encourages investment, and protects investors to strengthen sustainable development.

– Article 13: The state guarantees freedom of expression, thought, press, publication, and media. These rights are regulated by law to protect public order and respect the rights of others.

– Article 14: The state recognizes the right to political participation and the freedom to form parties based on national foundations. A commission will be formed to prepare the party law, and party activities will be suspended until this law comes into effect.

– Article 15: The state commits to protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international conventions and humanitarian norms.

– Article 16: The state protects the family as the foundation of society and commits to supporting motherhood and childhood.

– Article 17: The state commits to protecting the social status and active role of women and protecting them from all forms of violence and discrimination.

– Article 18: The state commits to protecting children from abuse and mistreatment and ensuring their access to education and health services.

– Article 20: The People’s Assembly is appointed by the President and performs legislative duties until a permanent constitution is adopted and new parliamentary elections are held.

– Article 27: The President is the head of state, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the highest authority responsible for the administration of the country.

– Article 35: The judiciary is independent. Judges are bound only by law and their conscience.

– Article 36: No crime or punishment can be applied without a legal regulation. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Extraordinary courts cannot be established.

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US, Israel explore African locations for Palestinian resettlement from Gaza

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According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), based on US and Israeli officials, the US and Israel have contacted officials from three East African countries to resettle Palestinians displaced from Gaza, within the framework of Trump’s proposed plan for the post-war period.

According to the AP, the discussions held with Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland, which seceded from Somalia, demonstrate the determination of the US and Israel to implement this plan, which has sparked serious reactions and debates. The fact that these countries are impoverished and, in some cases, shaken by violence casts a shadow over Trump’s goal of resettling Palestinians in a “beautiful area,” according to the AP.

Sudanese officials stated that they rejected the proposals from the US, while officials from Somalia and Somaliland told the AP they were unaware of any contacts.

Two Sudanese officials confirmed that the Trump administration approached the government about accepting Palestinians. One of the officials said that the contacts began before Trump took office, with offers of military assistance against the RSF, post-war reconstruction, and other incentives. Both officials said the Sudanese government rejected the idea. One official stated, “This proposal was immediately rejected. No one has brought up this issue again.”

According to Trump’s plan, more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza will be permanently relocated to other regions. The plan envisages the US taking control of Gaza, conducting a comprehensive cleansing process, and developing the area as a real estate project.

Previously seen as a fantasy of the Israeli far-right, this idea was described as a “bold vision” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Trump raised it at a White House meeting last month.

Palestinians in Gaza rejected the proposal and did not accept Israel’s claims that migration would be voluntary. Arab countries also strongly opposed the plan, proposing an alternative reconstruction plan that envisions Palestinians remaining in the region. Human rights groups also state that forcing or pressuring Palestinians to migrate could constitute a potential war crime.

Despite this, the White House announced that it “stands behind Trump’s vision.”

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