The operations of Noor and Barya television stations in the country have been suspended today (Tuesday, April 16).
The Commission on Media Violation (CMV) has cited the television stations’ non-compliance with the commission’s recommendations and their neglect of journalistic standards as the reasons for their suspension.
“Both media outlets, Noor Television and Barya Television, were temporarily closed based on the decision of the commission members representing institutions, the journalism community, and media,” said Hafizullah Barakzai, head of the Afghan Journalists Union.
According to the Ministry of Information and Culture, the owners of these outlets were repeatedly engaging in anti-regime propaganda.
“In light of these principles, it was decided to refer these media outlets to court, and their operations will be suspended until the court’s decision. This was the commission’s decision,” said Khubaib Ghufran, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Culture. Nearly ten print, visual, and audio media outlets have started operations in the country over the past three years.
According to statistics from media support organizations, the operations of over 200 media have ceased during this period for various reasons.
Mujeeb Khelwatgar, the head of NAI (a group that supports open media in Afghanistan) in a video message announced the temporary suspension of this organization’s activities in Afghanistan.
Khelwatgar stressed that no representative will be representing the organization in Afghanistan anymore.
“The leadership of the NAI in their latest meeting reached an agreement to halt the activity of NAI for temporary period of time in Afghanistan,” he said.
NAI was operating in Afghanistan for nearly two decades.
“If one of these organizations are being closed or halt their work. It means that a major impact and a major harm is inflicted to the media society of Afghanistan,” said Abdul Qadeem Wiar, head of the Afghan Journalist Safety Committee.
This comes as the journalists expressed concerns, saying that suspension of organizations supporting the media will have a negative impact on the activities of the media. “The presence of an organization was a hope for the media and journalists and its suspension is a bad news for the media society,” said Daud Mubarak Oghlu, a journalist.—Tolonews
