Taliban Supporter Labels Foreign Media as ‘Devil’ in Taloqan Friday Sermon
Zakaria Faiz, the Imam of the Central Jami Mosque in Taloqan city, Takhar province, and a supporter of the Taliban administration, described foreign media as ‘devil’ during Friday prayers yesterday. He urged residents to refrain from following these media outlets in their homes.
In his remarks, he emphasized that people should not seek the ‘truth’ from foreign media and considered boycotting these outlets as the correct way to stay informed. These statements directly call on audiences to limit their access to independent news sources.
This stance comes amid increased censorship and severe restrictions on media operations following the Taliban’s return to power. According to reports from media support organizations, pressure on journalists has intensified, and domestic media are under stricter supervision than ever before.
Critics argue that such statements from official pulpits, alongside the Taliban administration’s restrictive policies, undermine citizens’ right to access diverse and independent information. They contend this reduces media to instruments of the ruling power’s propaganda, which contradicts the principles of free information dissemination and society’s need for awareness.
