Taliban bought Iranian jammers to block news channels critical of regime's terrible ways

Further cullingthe freedom and choices of its citizens, the Taliban have allegedly purchased jammers from Iran to shut down independent television channels reporting on the regime's terrible ways, from reaching the masses.

Afghanistan International Television (AITV) - one of the most prominent anti-establishment voices in the country has been forced to shut down broadcast for over a week due to the orbital jammers blocking its satellite stations.

According to reports, the Taliban sent disruptive signals from a ground station to the satellite, interfering with the channel;s broadcast. Between September 5 and 13, viewers saw a blank screen on their TV sets before the channel shifted to a different satellite frequency.

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“I had received information in August from inside Kabul that the Taliban had purchased an extremely expensive jammer with the intention of using it against us,” AITV'sexecutive editor Harun Najafizada toldThe Independent.

“This act of orbital jamming not only attacks press freedom but also violates international standards and highlights the Taliban’s increasing efforts to dismantle free expression and restrict Afghan citizens’ access to truthful information,” addedNajafizada.

The publication stated that the Taliban obtained the Iranian orbital jammers earlier this year in May, with the rather expensive purchase confirmedby sources inside Kabul’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), the intelligence agency of the Taliban.

“This interference and shutdown via orbital jammers will not be limited to just AITV but other international news channels which the Taliban doesn’t find fit under their interpretation of Sharia law, they want to implement their own state radio and television broadcast which praise the Supreme leader and his Talib ministers,” a source was quoted as saying.

Notably, after the death of 22-year-old Mahasa Amini in Iran last year and the subsequent protests, Tehran also jammed AITV's sister channelIran International.

Taliban to ban cricket: Reports

Having already banned women from participating in civil society by banning their education and restricting their movement outdoors, the Taliban is now coming for cricket as well - the one outlet of hope for the common Afghans.

According to several reports, the Supreme Leader of Afghanistan - Hibatullah Akhundzada has announced a gradual ban on cricket. However, there is no official confirmation regarding this; it is well-known that the Taliban spearheads Afghanistan.

Akhundzada is believed to be not happy with the sport due to its harmful effects.It is also being circulated on social media that playing cricket is against the Sharia Law.

There is a tussle between two factions in Afghanistan on the issue – one led by Akhunzada, and the other by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the brother of Anas Haqqani, who has invested heavily in Afghanistan cricket.

(With inputs from agencies)