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Afghan immigrants shot at Iranian border On 13 October 2024, hundreds of Afghan migrants were shot at near the Iran-Pakistan border, reportedly by Iranian border guards. 29 Oct 2024 On 15 October 2024, Haalvsh, an independent Iranian human rights organisation mainly reporting on Sunni Baluch rights, released two partly blurred videos of Afghans allegedly shot near Kalagan village in the Saravan district of Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran. The videos feature at least eight injured individuals lying on the ground while being helped by others. Haalvsh stated that Iranian border guard forces ambushed a group of 300 Afghans who sought irregular entry to Iran on the evening of 13 October 2024, killing and injuring dozens. Haalvsh claimed that Iranian forces had also fired directly at the Afghans using Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs). Later on 15 October, Hamasa Media, an Afghan media outlet, shared a third video featuring at least four people, including two men lying on the ground and two others caring for them. The lower body of one of the men is covered with blood. One of the men assisting the victims says that the man was shot four times in his legs. On the same day, Hamasa Media posted an uncensored version of one of the videos earlier shared by Haalvsh. It shows three-four individuals, including at least three men with various degrees of injuries, lying on the ground and being assisted by two-three others. In the background, other people are heard discussing what happened to the victims. AW notes that the injuries on at least one of the men appear to have been caused by a blast (likely an RPG) rather than bullets. It is also noteworthy that the victims speak Pashto and mention that the incident took place in the Kalagan area, how many of them were there (10), and that they came under attack. They do not, however, specify the time or date of the incident. All of the videos mentioned above were recorded in the dark, seemingly at night time. The people featured in them wear similar types of clothing and speak in a similar Pashto dialect, while the soil the victims were lying on also appears consistent. AW believes that all three videos were recorded by the same person in the same location, using the same device. In total, AW identified 10 people with different degrees of injuries in these three videos, all young men in their late teens to mid-20s. Figure: Images of injured individuals taken from the three videos allegedly related to the Kalagan incident. On the same evening, Nedaey Baluch Media , an Afghan Baluch news agency, and later Khama Press , an Afghan media outlet, shared two audio recordings of alleged survivors of the same incident. The first witness, speaking in Farsi with a Badghisi dialect (a province in northwest Afghanistan), claims that he was among a group of 300 people who attempted to travel to Iran through the Saravan-Kalagan route (see below). While he does not specify a date or time for the incident, he claims that Iranian forces killed 280 people, including 12 of his friends, and that those injured and killed were taken to Herat. The second recording is also of a Farsi speaker, who claims that a group of 300 people were ambushed in Kalagan two days before [approx. 12-13 October]. He says that only 60 people survived. AW, however, has not been able to establish the total casualty toll from the incident. Hospital footage of alleged casualties On 16 October 2024, Hamasa Media shared a post including blurred photos of alleged casualties from the Kalagan incident, taken in a hospital. Similarly, Haalvsh shared a 30-second video showing an older man and two young men, who were alleged victims of the Kalagan shooting now being treated at a hospital in Saravan district. In the video, the older man has severe injuries on his lower body and is lying on a bed, while the young men seem to have relatively minor injuries, with some of their legs and arms in casts. The individual recording (who sounds like a young man or a boy) asks the older man if he had been shot. The individual recording speaks in Farsi in the Badghisi dialect, unlike the videos analysed above that mainly featured Pashto speakers. Afghanistan International , however, reported having contacted several local hospitals in Baluchistan, Pakistan, bordering Saravan, where the incident is claimed to have taken place, but received no reports of victims from the incident being treated there. Figure: Stills taken from the video shared by Haalvsh of the victims of the Kalagan incident allegedly hospitalised in Saravan (source: Haalvsh). While the victims at the hospital seem to have similar lower-body injuries as those in the initial videos posted, their physical appearances do not match the victims in the initial videos. AW has been unable to verify whether their injuries were linked to the Kalagan shooting. AW, however, observes that the tiles seen on the walls and floor in the video from the hospital match those seen in an older video taken at Razi Hospital in Saravan district, Iran, posted in July 2021. Figure: (Left) Two screenshots from the video of the hospitalised victims compared with a screenshot (Right) from the video recorded at the Razi Hospital in Saravan posted on YouTube in July 2021 (source: @mayarjal_ir). Where is Kalagan? Kalagan is a village that marks an entry point to the Saravan district in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran, located 10 kilometres from the border to Baluchistan, Pakistan. According to a report from Amu TV on 17 October 2024, the Kalagan-Saravan route is one of several that human trafficking networks use to smuggle undocumented Afghans into Iran. They start this journey in the southwestern Afghan province of Nimroz (see figure below), from where they travel for eight hours across the Pakistani border into the Dak region in Baluchistan. From there, they continue by foot for 48 hours to Mashkel, where they face another 10-hour leg by car and foot to cross the Iranian border through Kalagan towards Saravan. Figure: Map showing the location of Kalagan, and the route taken by undocumented Afghans who travel to Iran from Nimroz through Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. Taliban establishes delegation to investigate Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on 17 October 2024 that the Taliban Prime Minister had appointed a “high-ranking delegation” to investigate the Salagan incident. The delegation will be led by Mawlawi Ibrahim Sadr, Deputy Interior Minister for Security, and consists of representatives from the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Borders and Tribal Affairs, as well as the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI). Mis/disinformation around the event On 16 October 2024, the X user Javed Kundzi, who claims to be a member of the Taliban, shared a photo of the bodies of 10 individuals allegedly shot dead by Iranian forces in Kalagan. AW, however, verified that the picture had been circulated on social media before the incident in Kalagan, and actually shows miners killed in the Duki district of Baluchistan province, Pakistan on 11 October 2024 . Figure: Image shared on X claiming to show victims from the Kalahan shooting, but is actually of miners killed in Pakistan earlier in October (source: @JavedKundzi_111). The image was widely circulated by social media users on platforms including Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) in Farsi, Pashto , and Turkish , and was also shared on some Chinese forums and by Taiwanese media outlets. Those who shared the photo include prominent Afghan users, including the women’s rights advocate and writer Homeira Qaderi (126.3K followers), individuals related to the former government such as Sami Sadat (86.1K followers) and Ziaulhaq Amarkhil (622K followers), and the journalist Hamid Haidari (6K followers). Subsequently, seemingly pro-Taliban social media users and at least one journalist (from Voice of America, although she later amended her post ) circulated another video featuring hundreds of bodies covered in white sheets, claimed to be victims of the Kalagan incident. AW, however, verified that the video was originally shared by the pro-Taliban social media activist Prof Jawed Mohmand , and features footage of dead bodies from the Herat earthquake in October 2023. Figure: The photo on the left is taken from a video from the Herat earthquake in October 2023. The photos on the top and bottom right show stills from the same video, but which were shared online as examples of mis/disinformation around the Kalagan incident. (Source: YouTube) Abuses against Afghans returning to the country The alleged shooting by Iran’s border forces in Kalagan comes in the context of consistent reports of abuse against Afghans in Iran. In the last five years, media reported numerous incidents of violence targeting Afghan migrants in Iran, including an incident involving Iranian border guards in May 2020 . Recently, in 2023, the BBC highlighted how Afghan victims of traffickers are kidnapped by criminal groups on the Iran-Turkey border. Iranian authorities also continue to forcibly deport Afghans in violation of international law. Share

Filter by Tags Reports & Analysis Original reporting by the Afgha n Witness team 5 Nov 2024 Taliban minister’s comments sparks outrage over “women’s voice ban” When acting Minister Hanafi discussed elements of the law on virtue and vice, misinterpretations spread globally. Read here 5 Nov 2024 Kabul: three attacks in three days highlight precarious security situation NRF and AFF target Taliban in Kabul as unclaimed explosion leaves civilians caught in escalating violence. Read here 21 Oct 2024 Pro-Taliban outlet releases alleged AI-generated audio of former Afghan commander arranging mercenary deal Clips alleged to show former commander Sadat arranging mercenaries for Ukraine spark controversy, with allegations of AI manipulation. Read here 9 Oct 2024 Taliban destroy Hazara landmark amid roadworks in Kabul Abdul Ali Mazari monument demolished during roadworks in Hazara-majority area of Dasht-e Barchi. Read here 9 Oct 2024 Taliban announce tighter controls on media, scholars, and online platforms Taliban ban TikTok and PUBG, restrict controversial discussions in media and target political analysts. Read here 5 Nov 2024 Taliban implements ban on living beings in media Media outlets forced to cease visual content, limiting news coverage to audio and graphics. Read here 29 Oct 2024 Afghan immigrants shot at Iranian border On 13 October 2024, hundreds of Afghan migrants were shot at near the Iran-Pakistan border, reportedly by Iranian border guards. Read here 9 Oct 2024 Boy found dead after accusing Taliban members of sexual abuse Boy allegedly killed by Taliban after accusing multiple commanders of rape in Farah province interrogation video. Read here 9 Oct 2024 ICJ gender discrimination case: online responses International Court of Justice case against Taliban triggers social media campaigns from both supporters and critics. Read here 24 Sept 2024 ISKP massacres group of Hazara in Central Afghanistan ISKP’s third attack in the region since August 2021 kills at least 14 men. Read here View More

Taliban minister’s comments sparks outrage over “women’s voice ban” When acting Minister Hanafi discussed elements of the law on virtue and vice, misinterpretations spread globally. 5 Nov 2024 On 26 October 2024, the Taliban’s Ministry of the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (MoPVPV) posted a two-minute audio clip from acting Minister Sheikh Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, dated 24 October, on its official X account (formerly Twitter). The post included the question: "In which situations is the voice of women considered awrah (forbidden)"? Referring to Clause 3 of Article 13 in the Taliban’s Law on Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV Law, announced on 21 August 2024), Minister Hanafi notes that the law explicitly states women are forbidden from loud recitations, singing nasheeds (Islamic vocal songs or chants), and performing songs. He further says: "When an adult woman is praying, and another adult woman crosses in front of her, she should not say 'Alhamdulillah' ( “Glory be to God”) or 'Subhanallah' (“Praise be to God”) [to signal her to stop, as it is not permitted in Islam to walk past in front of someone who is praying]. Instead, she should clap her right hand against her left". He concludes: "As women are not permitted to recite the takbir (the phrase “Allahu Akbar”, or “God is Great”) or to call the azan (the call to prayer), how can singing be allowed for them [in a public setting]"? In the remainder of his speech, Hanafi emphasised that the implementation of the PVPV Law would be gradual. Various Afghan media outlets based abroad, such as Afghanistan International , Afghanistan Times and Amu TV , along with international outlets including The Independent and The Telegraph , reported on Hanafi’s remarks. AW, however, observed that some media outlets misinterpreted remarks in their coverage as new restrictions, when he was actually only commenting on the PVPV Law’s implementation. The remarks were also widely misinterpreted as restricting women from speaking to each other out loud, which is not the case: the restrictions specifically concern singing and religious recitation. Afghan women and women's rights activists widely condemned the acting minister’s remarks. Some X accounts also responded by posting video clips of women singing, and used the hashtag #صدای_من_عورت_نیست , (“My voice is not forbidden”). On 26 October, former Afghan Member of Parliament Mariam Solimankhil responded on X (94,000 followers): “I guess the ‘new and improved’ version of Taliban rule just means more creative ways to oppress women”. Fawzia Koofi, women’s rights activist and former Afghan lawmaker, shared on X (565,000 followers) a photo of acting Minister Hanafi along with a report on his remarks, commenting: “Ban is the nick name of this guy. Every day a new Ban. Day will come soon that he will be banned”. Lina Rozbih, a female prominent Afghan journalist with over 418,000 followers on X, wrote : “The Taliban have banned women from talking to each other… The world must address the struggles of Afghan women”. Nayera Kohistani, a women rights activist who was reportedly imprisoned by the Taliban before leaving Afghanistan in March 2022, posted a video of herself singing in protest. An anti-Taliban account on X with over 4,000 followers posted a video showing a Kabul street with women heard singing in the background, performing the anthem of the former anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. Both posts included the hashtag of “My voice is not forbidden”. Several other posts also used the same hashtag. While pro-Taliban accounts largely remained silent on Hanafi's remarks, the Women’s Council of the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front condemned the comments as indicative of the Taliban’s “deep ignorance and dark mindedness”. Remarks The Taliban acting minister's remarks on women’s voices were meant to clarify a clause in the PVPV Law, which introduced sweeping further restrictions on the already heavily curtailed rights of women and girls in Afghanistan when it was introduced in August 2024. Despite this, several media outlets and social media users misinterpreted or misrepresented the remarks as a new set of restrictions on women, while often also failing to specify the context (that is, that acting Minister Hanafi was referring to prayers and singing). The remarks triggered an outraged response by women rights activists and others on social media, who posted videos of women singing in defiance using the hashtag “My voice is not forbidden”. This wave of reactions highlights the continued resilience of Afghan women and their commitment to challenging restrictions on their rights. Share

To survey How to use our map View map Home: Our Misson Latest Reports Kabul: three attacks in three days highlight precarious security situation NRF and AFF target Taliban in Kabul as unclaimed explosion leaves civilians caught in escalating violence. Taliban implements ban on living beings in media Media outlets forced to cease visual content, limiting news coverage to audio and graphics. Taliban minister’s comments sparks outrage over “women’s voice ban” When acting Minister Hanafi discussed elements of the law on virtue and vice, misinterpretations spread globally. Afghan immigrants shot at Iranian border On 13 October 2024, hundreds of Afghan migrants were shot at near the Iran-Pakistan border, reportedly by Iranian border guards. Pro-Taliban outlet releases alleged AI-generated audio of former Afghan commander arranging mercenary deal Clips alleged to show former commander Sadat arranging mercenaries for Ukraine spark controversy, with allegations of AI manipulation. Boy found dead after accusing Taliban members of sexual abuse Boy allegedly killed by Taliban after accusing multiple commanders of rape in Farah province interrogation video. Taliban announce tighter controls on media, scholars, and online platforms Taliban ban TikTok and PUBG, restrict controversial discussions in media and target political analysts. ICJ gender discrimination case: online responses International Court of Justice case against Taliban triggers social media campaigns from both supporters and critics. Taliban destroy Hazara landmark amid roadworks in Kabul Abdul Ali Mazari monument demolished during roadworks in Hazara-majority area of Dasht-e Barchi. Closure of Afghan diplomatic missions in Europe sparks protests and concern over Taliban control Taliban halts cooperation with diplomatic missions not under their control, protests against engagement with Taliban by Western countries. Border clashes between Taliban and Pakistan Propaganda war erupts as both sides share misleading information after days-long clashes. ISKP massacres group of Hazara in Central Afghanistan ISKP’s third attack in the region since August 2021 kills at least 14 men. More Reports In the Press Home: Who we are For Witnesses For journalists Anchor 1 Home: Contact Strengthening reporting Our database of verified information is available in the form of the interactive Afghan Witness Map , designed to support journalists, researchers and policymakers in their reporting and analysis. Further data from our database of visual evidence and claims is also shared with organisations and journalists upon request. While our work is rooted in open source verification, our interviews with Afghans from a variety of backgrounds shed light on the impacts of the issues we monitor daily. These testimonies are available in an anonymised form for journalists and international media to report on. For Witnesses We provide a secure solution for anyone who has witnessed a human rights incident in Afghanistan and wants to ensure their digital evidence is recorded, analysed and stored in order to hold perpetrators to account. Afghan Witness will investigate and, where possible, verify information submitted through the portal. Evidence can be uploaded anonymously – safeguarding the identities of witnesses and those providing information is of the utmost importance. Upload Evidence View map Subscribe below for in-depth reports, stories, and our monthly newsletter. First name Enter your email address I agree to the terms & conditions View terms of use Subscribe Thanks for submitting! Top of Page Strengthening the information environment Part of our work focuses on building community and strengthening the capabilities of the Afghan diaspora and international organisations to collect, analyse and record information in a way that is verifiable and in accordance with international accountability mechanisms. We do this through training, collaboration, skill swapping, information sharing and through our grants and fellowship program.

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Reports and Analysis Original reporting by the Afghan Witness team 5 Nov 2024 Taliban minister’s comments sparks outrage over “women’s voice ban” When acting Minister Hanafi discussed elements of the law on virtue and vice, misinterpretations spread globally. Read more 5 Nov 2024 Taliban implements ban on living beings in media Media outlets forced to cease visual content, limiting news coverage to audio and graphics. Read more 5 Nov 2024 Kabul: three attacks in three days highlight precarious security situation NRF and AFF target Taliban in Kabul as unclaimed explosion leaves civilians caught in escalating violence. Read more 29 Oct 2024 Afghan immigrants shot at Iranian border On 13 October 2024, hundreds of Afghan migrants were shot at near the Iran-Pakistan border, reportedly by Iranian border guards. Read more 21 Oct 2024 Pro-Taliban outlet releases alleged AI-generated audio of former Afghan commander arranging mercenary deal Clips alleged to show former commander Sadat arranging mercenaries for Ukraine spark controversy, with allegations of AI manipulation. Read more 9 Oct 2024 Boy found dead after accusing Taliban members of sexual abuse Boy allegedly killed by Taliban after accusing multiple commanders of rape in Farah province interrogation video. Read more 9 Oct 2024 Taliban destroy Hazara landmark amid roadworks in Kabul Abdul Ali Mazari monument demolished during roadworks in Hazara-majority area of Dasht-e Barchi. Read more 9 Oct 2024 ICJ gender discrimination case: online responses International Court of Justice case against Taliban triggers social media campaigns from both supporters and critics. Read more 9 Oct 2024 Taliban announce tighter controls on media, scholars, and online platforms Taliban ban TikTok and PUBG, restrict controversial discussions in media and target political analysts. Read more 24 Sept 2024 ISKP massacres group of Hazara in Central Afghanistan ISKP’s third attack in the region since August 2021 kills at least 14 men. Read more Load more

​ ​ 5 Nov 2024

Boy found dead after accusing Taliban members of sexual abuse Boy allegedly killed by Taliban after accusing multiple commanders of rape in Farah province interrogation video. 9 Oct 2024 On 19 September 2024 a video circulated on a number of accounts on X (formerly Twitter) showing an unnamed teenage boy from Farah province being interrogated by an (unpictured) male individual. In the 2:20-minute video, the boy claims that several Taliban members in Farah province had forced him into sodomy on 15 occasions. The first four counts were alleged to have been carried out by a specific Taliban member, however, the name of the perpetrator was not given and it is likely that the video constituted a section of a longer interrogation. The boy then names three “mujhahid” [Taliban members] as having carried out 11 of the rapes, Abdul Hadi, Musa Lawang, and Jamu Junaid. The boy also claimed that the individuals paid him 200-400 Afghani (approximately GBP 2 -5) in each instance, whilst forcing him into sex. Further details, including when the incidents took place, were not given in the video of the interview, although from the boy’s description, it appears likely that the counts of rape may have occurred over an extended period. Where and when the video was recorded was not stated, however, the tone and content of the male individual’s questioning suggests the boy may have been subject to formal interrogation (for example, during questioning, the male individual asks the boy to repent). AW also matched a blanket visible in the room where the boy was interrogated with a blanket in imagery from a post from July 2023 from the crimes investigation department of Farah’s police command. Therefore, AW assesses as likely that the boy may have been detained for questioning at the time the video was recorded. Figure: (Left) A photo from inside the crimes investigation department of Farah’s police command, shared in a post published in July 2023. (Right) A still image of the teenager (victim) taken from the video interrogation. A similar blanket is identified in both imagery (yellow rectangles). In addition to the three names identified by the boy, a fourth name may have been redacted from the video. Additional reporting from media outlets also claimed the identity of another perpetrator, on top of those named in the video. On 22 September 2024, Canada-based Zala News reported that an investigator at the Crimes Investigation Department of Farah’s Police Command had interrogated the boy, and that the boy had also mentioned “Obaidullah, also known as Khadim” as a perpetrator. Zala News claimed that Khadim was a Taliban commander and served as a special guard and driver for the Taliban’s police chief in Balkh. Zawia News reported on 23 September that a fourth convict in the case was Abdullah Khadim. According to Zawia News, Khadim is a Taliban commander and a special guard for Abdul Raziq Rashid, the Taliban’s police chief in Balkh. AW assesses that both news outlets are likely referring to the same person, who is not named in the excerpt of interrogation shared online. While little is known about Abdullah Khadim, AW verified that his senior, Abdul Raziq Rashid, has served as police chief for Balkh province since January 2024 . An Instagram post from May 2024 suggests that Abdul Raziq Rashid is a native of Farah province. Death of the boy following publication of the allegations On 23 September 2024, Zawia News reported that a Taliban member had killed the teenager in Farah following the interview which had circulated online the previous day. Sources told Zawia News that Abdullah Khadim, who the boy had not mentioned in the published video, had gone to Farah and shot and killed the boy, following allegations of Khadim’s involvement in the rapes. According to the news agency, Abdullah Khadim has since returned to his duty in Balkh. The report claimed Khadim was a native of Kansk village of the Balabulok district of Farah, and a relative of the police chief for Balkh. It also included a photo of the boy from his interrogation, and a photo of his body with blood stains on his face. While pro-Taliban users on X refute the reports about the abuse and the killing of the boy, AW has identified that the facial features of the body match those of the boy in the video interrogation. Several X users from Farah also confirmed the death of the boy. AW did not find any further information regarding the family or relatives of the boy, nor any complaint from them about the boy being abused or killed. This is likely due to social stigma regarding sexual abuse amongst Afghan communities, as well as fear of reprisals from Taliban members and authorities, which may have prevented victim and family members from seeking justice. It is highly likely that the boy was killed following the interrogation to prevent him from furthering the allegations or providing any additional identifying information, however, the extent of Abdullah Khadim’s involvement in the rapes or killing of the teenage boy could not be verified. Share

​ ​ 9 Oct 2024

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Taliban announce tighter controls on media, scholars, and online platforms Taliban ban TikTok and PUBG, restrict controversial discussions in media and target political analysts. 9 Oct 2024 On 20 September 2024, Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid published a statement on X (formerly Twitter) from the Taliban’s Prime Minister Hasan Akhund “on preventing controversial discussions and debates.” The full statement , comprising eight directives, addresses religious scholars, and insists that they avoid discussing controversial and divisive issues in the media. The statement also asks scholars not to discuss complex issues and those related to Sufism, arguing such discussions are for “particular audiences.” The directives against discussing topics related to Sufism have reportedly faced backlash and condemnation. The directives also ask the public and those in charge of religious schools not to facilitate or invite “those scholars who incite disputes, promote superstitions, continue to use discussions, debates, and inappropriate language in public media, and create doubt and discord among the people do so to gain popularity or vent their frustrations.” On 23 September 2024, the Afghanistan Journalists Centre (AJC) further reported that the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture had notified media personnel of the new restrictions in a meeting conducted on 21 September 2024. AJC claimed they had obtained a copy of the document, which outlines eight restrictions on media, including a ban on the live broadcast of debates, criticism of Taliban officials, laws and policies. The document also warns of consequences in the case of violations, and includes a list of “experts” approved by the Taliban to give interviews, commanding media outlets to request approval from the Media Oversight Directorate of the Ministry of Information and Culture should they decide to include a name not mentioned on the list. The AJC also claimed that they had accessed the list of Taliban-approved experts with 68 names, but did not enclose the list in the report. On 26 September 2024, a list was circulated on X which claimed to contain the names of 64 “experts” approved by the Taliban, including Taliban officials and government staff , as well as pro-Taliban individuals. Two of the pro-Taliban individuals contained in the list were women, including Farah Mujahid, an individual based in Germany who has appeared in the media supporting the Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women. The list also includes the names of a former MP and pro-Taliban ethnic Hazara Jafar Mahdavi , and Hezb-e Islami affiliated Fazel-Minallah Mumtaz. On 24 September 2024, 8am Media reported that several Taliban officials had travelled to Herat province. 8am Media claimed that the representatives had instructed media in the Western zone (provinces in west Afghanistan) to act as a “propaganda tool” for the group's Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry. Additionally, the officials directed Taliban media staff and spokespeople in the Western zone not to discuss security issues with media or topics that might jeopardise Taliban interests. Moreover, journalists told 8am Media that the Taliban were seeking to confront Afghan media operating from abroad, accusing them of “committing cultural invasion and spreading rumours.” Taliban block access to “immoral” websites, applications and TikTok On 21 September 2024, the Taliban’s Ministry of Communication and Information and Technology (MCIT) announced that they had monitored the filtering of “immoral sites” and applications, such as TikTok and the online multiplayer game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), and blocked their access countrywide through the use of telecommunication companies in Kabul. According to the ministry, the services of five telecommunications companies, Afghan Wireless, Etisalat, Salam, MTN and Roshan in Kabul, were monitored and reviewed to ensure the websites and applications were blocked. The ministry posted a table alongside a week-long assessment of the websites. In the table, the websites and applications were marked as “blocked” by all service providers in Kabul. PUBG is reported to be a popular video game in Afghanistan, with around 100,000 players using the service at peak times. The former Afghan government also deemed the game harmful and had planned to ban its use. Figure: Table shared by the Taliban’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology on X on 21 September 2024. The table title reads: “ Evaluation of one-week filtering of immoral websites in Kabul province.” Similarly, TikTok is used increasingly by younger Afghans, with estimates ranging from 325,000 to 2 million users in Afghanistan. Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akund had reportedly ordered the closure of TikTok and PUBG in 2022, claiming that the social media site was misleading the younger generation. Despite the order, pro-Taliban social media activist Mobeen Khan continued to use an account on TikTok with 195.9K followers, and his latest post was on 28 June 2024. AW investigators also noted several other pro-Taliban accounts on TikTok, some regularly posting videos until 9 February 2024 . Sources in Balkh province confirmed to AW that TikTok had been banned in the country as of 27 September 2024, but they remained able to access the application using a Visual Private Network (VPN). Taliban prosecution and punishment of political analysts and journalists During the same time period, AW recorded several arrests and sentencings of political analysts and journalists. On 27 September 2024, Afghanistan International reported that on 26 September 2024, Jawid Kohistani, a political analyst based in Kabul, had been detained by the Taliban. On 29 September 2024, Amu TV reported the detention of another political analyst, Khyber Hoshmand, in Kabul. According to Amu, Hoshmand was arrested by the Taliban on 22 September 2024 in Police District (PD) 8 of Kabul. Also on 29 September 2024, several Afghan media outlets reported that the Taliban’s military court had sentenced two journalists, Aref Hijran and Ahmad Kamran, to 10 years of imprisonment, following their arrests in July 2024. Hijran was reportedly sentenced for photographing Taliban checkpoints and Ashura commemorations. Share