Taliban Bans Photography & Filming at Sheikh Zayed University in Khost

Some students at the Journalism Faculty of Sheikh Zayed University in Khost province report that the Taliban has banned all forms of photography and filming at the faculty.

Photography and videography are essential parts of practical journalism education.

On Saturday, a number of students told Afghanistan International that university officials had informed them that photography and filming within the university grounds are now prohibited.

Some students also mentioned that there are disagreements among university professors on this matter. According to them, some professors continue to assign students projects involving photography and filming as part of their coursework.

Journalism students emphasised that completing practical projects in photography and video is crucial for their graduation.

So far, the administration of Sheikh Zayed University in Khost has not officially commented on this restriction.

Previously, during a visit to Khost, the Taliban’s Minister of Higher Education, in a meeting at Sheikh Zayed University, prohibited journalists from taking photos and videos. Taliban officials had told journalists that they were only allowed to record the voice of Nada Mohammad Nadim’s speech.

Under the new Taliban law of “Promotion of Virtue,” publishing images of living beings has been banned. This law has put visual media at risk, and several television stations in certain provinces of Afghanistan have halted their broadcasts.

The Taliban stated that the ban on broadcasting images of living beings would be implemented gradually and that they intend to convert television stations into radio stations.