KABUL (Daily Point) — A Taliban official has reportedly denounced the act of journalists capturing images, labeling it as “a major sin,” according to Afghan media reports circulating on Wednesday.
During a seminar for department staff held in the capital Kabul, Mohammad Hashem Shaheed Wror, a senior official in the justice ministry, purportedly conveyed that taking pictures constitutes a grave transgression. This statement harks back to the previous Taliban regime’s prohibition on television and imagery of living beings from 1996 to 2001. However, a similar decree has not been officially enforced since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.
The recent directive was highlighted as officials in Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, were reportedly instructed to refrain from capturing any images of living entities. Nevertheless, the ban was clarified not to extend to media or the general public, as indicated by Mahmood Azzam, the spokesperson for Kandahar’s governor, in statements to AFP.
Islamic art often steers clear of depicting humans and animals, with some Muslims holding an aversion to any representation of living beings. Consequently, numerous media outlets have abstained from utilizing images of people and animals since the Taliban’s resurgence more than two years ago.
Despite this, official central government departments frequently disseminate and exchange pictures depicting senior officials engaging with foreign dignitaries.
