No Police Officer Allowed to Interview with Media: MoI

In a decision, the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI) has ordered all staff and officials of the ministry to refrain from speaking with Media outlets. The Interior Ministry’s order comes as some media outlets have recently protested against what they as a limitation of access to information.

In a decision, the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI) has ordered all staff and officials of the ministry to refrain from speaking with Media outlets. The Interior Ministry’s order comes as some media outlets have recently protested against what they as a limitation of access to information.
The order which was released by MoI on Monday insists that the order has been given in order to safeguard the secrecy of duty and to prevent disinformation to citizens.

The MoI under the supervision of Amrullah Saleh had previously ordered that no police officer had the right to comment, publish and distribute police-related images.

“No Interior Ministry staff are allowed to publish the secret, appointment documents, promotions, images of officials in uniform, vehicles, weapon, equipment, meetings, and congratulatory ceremony as well as ways of inspection, investigating criminal cases, achievements, and other related-operations on social media networks,” read part of the command.

“The sole source of information on police functions to the media is the Ministry of the Interior’s press section,” the order underlined.

Last week, about 30 media outlets in a protest letter, complained about what they called as restrictions of access to information by government-related institutions and urged for lifting limitations on access to information.
They identified several government entities as the authorities that impose the most restrictions on access to information.