The Afghan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) suspended 17 broadcast licenses for 14 media outlets on July 22 in eastern Nangarhar province due to non-payment of taxes, raising significant concerns about press freedom in the region.
ATRA is a regulatory body that operates as part of the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
The Taliban had already shut down seven media outlets in the first half of this year, including several radio stations across different provinces.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) acknowledged that many media outlets owe back taxes ranging from one to ten years. Currently, only 14 radio stations remain operational in Nangarhar.
Local media officials reported that economic difficulties have increased since the Taliban’s return to power, with advertising revenue, their primary income source, significantly decreasing.
The order also stipulated that the outlets must renew their licenses and pay any outstanding fees or risk having all the outlet’s licenses revoked, according to CPJ’s review of the order, the exiled Afghanistan Journalists Center watchdog group, and a journalist who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity.
Outlets with suspended radio licenses include:
“Taliban officials must immediately reverse their decision to suspend the broadcast licenses of 14 active media outlets in Nangarhar province that collectively reach millions of people,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ Asia program coordinator. “The Taliban continues to exert pressure on media outlets to control their programming and broadcasting operations in Afghanistan. They must cease these tactics and allow the independent media to operate freely.”