Taliban Culture Minister Bans Publication of His Images

DID Press: Shir Ahmad Haqqani, the newly appointed acting Minister of Information and Culture of the Taliban government, has issued an order banning the publication of any photos or videos of himself, Reliable sources reported. The move has raised concerns about the expansion of visual restrictions and the potential threat to the future of audiovisual media in the country.

Haqqani, who recently replaced Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwa following a decree by Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, has officially said that no images or videos of him should be released from attending official meetings, meeting with foreign diplomats, or participating in government sessions.

Insiders say the decision aligns with a broader Taliban directive prohibiting the public dissemination of images of living beings in mass media—a policy that reportedly contributed to Khairkhwa’s dismissal.

Ideologically aligned with the Taliban leadership, Haqqani has initiated the implementation of this controversial policy by restricting publication of his own images. Media activists warn that this could signal a stricter cultural policy, potentially extending restrictions to all state and private media outlets in Afghanistan.

Media experts caution that if such measures expand, Afghanistan’s audiovisual media could face de facto closure, further limiting the country’s information landscape.