• Source:JND
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Afghanistan Internet Ban News: A Taliban crackdown to “prevent immorality” is spreading across Afghanistan, with more provinces losing access to fibre-optic internet after the country's leader imposed a complete ban on the technology. It's the first time a ban of this kind has been imposed since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, and leaves government offices, the private sector, public institutions, and homes without Wi-Fi internet. Mobile internet remains functional, however. Officials say alternatives are being found “for necessities.”

The northern Balkh province confirmed a Wi-Fi shutdown on Tuesday, with reports of severe disruption in other parts of the country. On Thursday, officials in the east and north said internet access was cut off in the provinces of Baghlan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Nangarhar, and Takhar.

Why does Taliban ban internet in Afghanistan?

Siddiqullah Quraishi, from the Nangarhar Culture Directorate, confirmed the shutdown to the news agency, The Associated Press. The governor's office in Kunduz shared a message in an official WhatsApp group. The Afghanistan Media Support Organisation condemned the ban and expressed its concern.

“This action, carried out on the orders of the Taliban's leader, not only disrupts millions of citizens' access to free information and essential services but also poses a grave threat to freedom of expression and the work of the media," it said.

The hardline Islamist movement has previously voiced concern over pornography and flirtation between men and women online. It has already announced other measures including stopping girls going to high school and women working in many different fields.

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The restriction is limited to all internet connections via fiber optic cable, officials said. Internet access on cell phone data, however, will be available, they said.

All connections have been cut off, according to a statement from the provinces. “This measure has been taken to prevent immoral activities,” the statement said, adding that an alternative will be provided for essential needs.

Last year, a spokesman for the Communications Ministry, Enayatullah Alokozai, told the private TV channel TOLO News that Afghanistan had a fibre-optic network of more than 1,800 kilometres and that approval had been given for an additional 488 kilometres. Most Afghan provinces have had fibre-optic services until now.

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Is filtering pornography so hard?

Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said the ban was absurd. “If pornography is really the concern, like as in many Islamic countries, it can easily be filtered. Many countries in the Islamic world do exactly that,” he said. The Taliban formally codified a long set of rules governing morality late last year, ranging from requiring women to cover their faces and men to grow beards to banning car drivers from playing music. The Taliban’s restrictions on women and freedom of expression have drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and many foreign governments.

(With inputs from agency)