Media outlets must ‘not cause misery and sedition’: Ministry

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) Ministry of Information and Culture has called on media outlets to disseminate content that is factual and that contains issues of national interest.

In a meeting on Wednesday with media representatives, officials from the ministry, including the minister, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah, said the media plays an important role in the development, progress, and preservation of Islamic and national values and also national unity.

“You (media outlets) should try to use your pen and language to benefit the people and not to cause misery and sedition between people,” said Khairkhah.

Mohajer Farahi, the Deputy minister meanwhile said that the media can criticize the lack of work of the government in order to bring about reforms in the institutions, but that it must be based on Islamic principles and values. He also said the policy of the Islamic Emirate was not and is not in any way in conflict with the media.

“The policy of the Islamic Emirate is that we do not want to clash with the media in any way, but we [want to] work together,” said Farahi.

The spokesman of the IEA Zabihullah Mujahid however has pointed out that all government institutions are obliged to make information available to the media in a timely manner.

“Access to information is less and there are problems, and the Commission for Access to Information has its own problems and its employees have decreased from 51 to 18 people,” said Mujahid.

“As much as possible, the organizations should be obliged to make the information available to the media,” he added.

Mujahid also said that the mass media law is under review.

The Ministry of Information and Culture meanwhile has banned Radio Azadi and Voice of America from broadcasting in the country.