June 23, 2026
Kabul — The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) condemns in the strongest terms the Taliban Ministry of Justice’s raid and subsequent shutdown of Tamadon TV in Kabul today. This action marks a troubling escalation in the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to suppress independent media, restrict minority voices, and undermine the right to free expression in Afghanistan.
According to a source within Tamadon TV who requested anonymity for security reasons, security forces affiliated with the Taliban Ministry of Justice forcibly entered the station’s offices around 12 p.m. local time, assaulted and verbally abused staff, and ordered the immediate closure of the broadcaster.
The station, founded in 2006 and primarily serving the Hazara-Shia community, has long been a critical platform for religious, cultural, and political programming. Its shutdown not only silences a vital voice but also signals an alarming pattern of repression targeting minority media outlets.
This raid follows previous incidents of intimidation, including a June 2024 raid on Tamadon TV, during which security forces detained several employees. The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice then announced the station’s closure, claiming that Tamadon TV was affiliated with the Harakat-e-Islami political party—a designation the station disputes, asserting that such claims are unfounded and that they are operating legally on disputed land.
Mohammad Jawad Mohseni, Tamadon TV’s owner, stated on Facebook that the station has challenged the land dispute cited by authorities through legal channels, asserting that the station’s operation is lawful and under judicial review.
He also expressed concern over the timing of the shutdown during the holy month of Muharram, a period significant to the Shia community, and noted the broader impact on public access to diverse voices and religious programming.
AFJC condemns this act as an unlawful, extrajudicial shutdown that disregards legal procedures and religious sensitivities. Such actions not only violate the right to freedom of press but also threaten the safety and independence of journalists working under increasingly hostile conditions. We call on Taliban authorities to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this closure, uphold judicial procedures, and facilitate the immediate resumption of Tamadon TV’s operations without pressure or intimidation.
The suppression of Tamadon TV exemplifies the broader erosion of media independence and religious pluralism in the country—a trend that must be urgently reversed to uphold fundamental rights and the rule of law.