Censorship. For the second consecutive day, the Taliban government restricted, this Wednesday, September 17, internet access in several provinces of Afghanistan. The authorities justify these cuts by a desire to fight “The vice” and the “Moral corruption”. In the North, the province of Balkh saw its completely disconnected fiber optic network, on the orders of the Taliban supreme chief, the Emir Hibatullah Akhundzada, specifies AFP.
Other regions of the North, such as Badakhshan and Takhar, but also from the South, notably the provinces of Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan, are affected. From now on, access to the Internet only goes through the telephone network, which is strongly disrupted according to our colleagues on site.
A decision with heavy economic consequences
In the province of Nangarhar, the restriction is not yet in force. But according to Qorai Badloune, spokesperson for the information and culture department, it should be generalized “In the coming days”. In a press release, he justified the decision by claiming that “Online applications have negatively affected the economic, social, cultural and religious foundations of society and have led it to moral corruption”.
But in fact, this measure could have catastrophic economic repercussions. “If these connection problems are not resolved, we will undergo great losses”worried Atti Mohammed, marble entrepreneur in Kandahar, with AFP. “If we do not respond in time to the emails of our customers in Dubai and in India, we will not be able to continue our things. I did not sleep from the night. »»
“The other face of Afghanistan”
In 2024, the Taliban praised the development of optical fiber, presented as a ” priority “ For “Bringing the country closer to the rest of the world” And “Getting it out of poverty”. The network covers more than 9,000 kilometers today, after a deployment started in the 2000s.
Since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban have multiplied the restrictions, inspired by their ultra-rigorist interpretation of Islamic law. A policy that contrasts with their assiduous use of social networks, where several officials remain very active in relaying the official communication of the regime.
In August, a French videographer, guided by Taliban, was even offered a tour of the country. In March, it was Canadian Youtubeur Nolan Saumure, better known as “Seal On Tour”, which boasted “The other face of Afghanistan”. Describing the country as “A real festival of sausage” – women being completely invisible – the latter became friends with the “Talibros”contraction of “Taliban” and “Brother” (“brother”, in English).
