"This means that the media cannot talk about the reality of what is going on in Afghanistan - the killings, car bombs and military operations," Vincent Brossel, head of Reporter Sans Frontiers' (RSF) Asia Pacific desk, told IRIN from Paris.
Some of the things specifically are cited as "things which must be banned or restricted" include:
• Reporting on enemy statements.
• Reports which cause irritation or imply national disunity.
• Interviews with insurgent commanders.
• Reporting on acts of terrorism as the lead story of the news.
• Reports that hurt public morale and cause disappointment.
• Reporting on religious decrees.
• Reports against the presence of coalition forces.
• Reports that suggest low morale amongst Afghanistan's military.
• Referring to the Mujahideen as “warlords”.
• Reports that endanger territorial unity and national sovereignty.
• Potentially provocative reports relating to riots and violence.
• Reporting on topics that violate public morals and customs.
• Referring to the enemy as warriors, resistance, etc.
• Negative, harsh, or slanderous reports against public figures.
So, basically, the new rules are so vague that a reporter can't really report the news accurately. Got it.
I have the full translated text of the document, which is as follows:
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
The public media as bridge between people and government has a significant
role. Although the rule of press justifies and directs of their activities, in the
current circumstances, it is important that the media must ban or restrict
broadcasting those materials which deteriorate the morale of the public, cause
security problems and which are against the national interest. The following
must be banned or restricted:
•
organizations and terrorist groups.
Publication and broadcasting of provocative statements of armed
•
exaggerated reports against national unity, or against peace throughout
the country and those report that cause intolerance of language,
religious, ethnic and local diversities.
Broadcasting and publications of reports which cause irritation, any
•
terrorist groups those who have participated in armed conflict against
the government, and filming or photographing them, and broadcasting
or publication of those reports that have been prepared in the favor of
and in order to bolster the morale of the enemies of peace and security.
Conducting interviews with high ranking well known commanders of
•
News of terrorist activities must not come as the lead story of the news.
•
disappointment to them, and publication and broadcasting of gossip and
rumors which are against the security and welfare of society.
Those materials that deteriorate people’s morale and cause
•
enemies that are against the tranquility of the people.
Broadcasting and publications of religious decrees of terrorists and
•
slanderous and which are against the presence (in Afghanistan) of the
international coalition forces and ISAF.
Negative propaganda, interviews and reports which are provocative or
•
want to represent that Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is not Islamic,
or combating terrorism is a kin to combating Islam.
Broadcasting and publication of any views of the people’s enemies who
•
Afghanistan’s armed forces is weak.
Those reports that aim to represent that the fighting spirit in
•
the Mujahideen and call them “warlords” and those which call
technocrats as “Westernized” and subjects of this nature which create
division and conflict.
Broadcasting and publication of provocative articles which are against
•
territorial independence, territorial unity and national sovereignty of the
state.
Broadcasting reports, subjects, articles and discussions which endanger
•
acts.
Avoidance or abstinence from exaggeration of accidents and terrorist
•
be published and violence should be condemned.
Reports relating to riots and violence which are provocative should not
•
are against the morals, religious and accepted customs of the public
which provoke people and cause security problems.
Broadcasting and publication of programs and subject matters which
•
etc should not be used to describe terrorists and killers.
The use of titles of respect such as warriors, resistance, peace keepers
•
inaccurate, undocumented, harsh and slanderous which are defamatory
specifically against important figures, and in accordance with article 2
provision 33 of the Press Laws are forbidden.
Broadcasting and publication of interviews and reports that are
•
governmental and military secrets and cause a deterioration of relations
among three branches of state and results in reduction of the prestige of
the government and parliament.
Live reports from meetings and ceremonies that disclose confidential
•
against the government’s foreign policy in regard to neighboring
countries that puts the government in conflict with neighboring
countries.
In the following cases, we ask cooperation of mass media.
Broadcasting and publication of those reports and interviews that are
•
news of incidents related to the armed forces.
Improvement in the method of news, sentences and words used in
•
people.
Disclosure of the real face of terrorists and their isolation from the
•
forces in the capital and provinces and particularly, in the country’s
border areas.
Dissemination of the spirit of resistance and the bravery of the armed
•
adopting a defensive policy against this type propaganda.
Disclosure of the propaganda of the enemy of peace and security and
•
which are inhumane, and which uncover and disclose their criminal
activities.
Dissemination of reports by the media relating to activities of terrorists
•
public relations and spokespersons and the media.
In observing and executing the above, according to directions of the leaders of
the government, we want the cooperation of all media organizations and their
responsible personnel.
Strengthening of relations and improvement of cooperation between
Copying and broadcasting and distribution of this document is not authorized.
