Afghanistan's interim government has issued a sweeping decree prohibiting the broadcast of images showing any living beings on television channels throughout the nation.
The directive, announced by the Ministry of Information and Culture, encompasses all visual representations of humans, animals, and other living creatures across broadcast media platforms.
This comprehensive ban marks a significant expansion of existing media restrictions in the country. Officials state the measure aligns with their interpretation of cultural and religious values.
The interim administration's spokesperson confirmed the immediate implementation of the ban, though formal written guidelines have yet to be distributed to media outlets.
International media watchdogs warn that this extensive prohibition could severely impact news reporting, educational programming, and entertainment content across Afghan television networks.
Local broadcasters are now scrambling to adjust their content libraries, potentially affecting thousands of hours of programming, ranging from news coverage to children's educational shows.
Media professionals suggest this restriction could isolate Afghan viewers from global content and limit the country's participation in international media exchanges.
The ban has prompted concerns from humanitarian organizations about its impact on public health messaging and educational initiatives that rely on visual communication.