Social Media The Women’s Political Participation Network of Afghanistan, in a statement, described four years of Taliban rule as a period of “systematic violation of the fundamental rights of the people and the taking hostage of the future of a nation.” The statement said that during this time, by closing the doors of schools and universities to girls, enforcing misogynistic and repressive policies, and removing academic books – especially the works of women and Persian texts – the Taliban have not only eliminated women from the space of knowledge and thought, but are also pursuing “cultural cleansing.” This network, referring to recent protests in Kabul and Mazar, called them a sign of severe social pressure on the people. In Kabul, retired women protested due to the non-payment of their pensions, and in Mazar, men affected by the economic crisis took to the streets. According to the network, instead of responding to these legitimate demands, the Taliban, with silence and repression, showed that they have no mechanism for addressing the problems of citizens. The network also referred to the widespread internet shutdowns in various provinces, especially in the north of the country, calling it a “tool of repression and silencing the voices of the people.” The statement emphasized that digital blackout has deprived millions of people of online education, digital businesses, and family communication, plunging society into darkness. The Women’s Political Participation Network of Afghanistan called on the international community to officially document the human rights violations committed by the Taliban and to apply serious political and legal pressure on this group. The network also stated that internet shutdown must be recognized as a tool of repression and that alternative ways to access education and information should be provided. According to the network, the removal of books and scientific censorship must be exposed, and with the support of global academic institutions, access of Afghan youth to sources of knowledge must be guaranteed. The network warned that over the past four years, the Taliban have shown that they have no belief in human rights or the future of Afghanistan. At the end of the statement, it emphasized: “Silence means complicity with repression. We call on all the people of Afghanistan and the international community to stand together and prevent the continuation of the Taliban’s misogynistic and inhumane policies.”

Image source: UNAMA Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, warned in a UN Security Council meeting that the Taliban’s policies against women and girls have placed the country in the face of “the greatest social and economic crisis.” On Wednesday (September 17), in this meeting, she referred to the four years of closed school doors to girls above grade six and said: “A generation is at risk of destruction; a generation that will carry a long-term cost for the country and has created great concern and despair in Afghan society.” According to her, this deprivation has not only deprived millions of Afghan girls of the right to education and their future, but also causes more than 1.4 billion dollars in losses to Afghanistan’s economy annually. The senior UN official emphasized that the majority of Afghan people are also opposed to the ban on girls’ education. Based on a recent UN Women survey, more than 80 percent of Afghans want girls’ schools to reopen. Otunbayeva added that the Taliban’s policies against women, including the ban on higher education and the prohibition of women working in aid organizations and even the United Nations, have paralyzed the international community’s ability to help the people of Afghanistan. She added: “Recently, Taliban Ministry of Defense forces prevented Afghan female employees from entering UN offices. Also, Taliban Ministry of Interior personnel blocked access of female employees to UN field offices in various provinces. These restrictions have disrupted the UN’s ability to assist the people of Afghanistan at a moment when they need help more than ever.” This comes while the international community has repeatedly described these policies as “gender apartheid” and demanded their immediate removal. Despite this, the Taliban continue to insist on the restrictions.

Image: AP Human Rights Activist Union, in a statement, strongly condemned the Taliban’s action of cutting widespread internet services in Afghanistan and described it as a “direct attack on freedom of expression, access to information, and the fundamental right of people to connect with the outside world.” The statement said that in the twenty-first century, the internet is a vital lifeline for education, work, trade, health services, and civil activities, and by shutting down this lifeline, the Taliban seek to “keep people in darkness and isolation and silence the voice of truth.” The human rights body stressed that cutting the internet, especially for women and girls who could only continue their education through online learning, is “the last nail in the coffin of knowledge” and a clear sign of the Taliban’s misogyny. The Human Rights Activist Union described the Taliban as a “terrorist group and systematic violator of human rights” and warned that depriving millions of people of internet access, paralyzing businesses, and silencing the media and civil institutions is “a blatant attempt to destroy any free thought and civic resistance.” The statement further called on the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, the International Telecommunication Union, and organizations defending freedom of expression to hold the Taliban accountable as the perpetrators of this “digital repression” and to use diplomatic, political, and legal pressure to force them to immediately restore internet services. The statement added: “The internet is a fundamental right of every citizen, not a privilege that can be granted or taken away by a terrorist group. The world must not allow the Taliban to turn Afghanistan into a silent prison by cutting off the internet.”

Image: Reuters/Ali Khara In a sweeping and unprecedented move, the Taliban have cut fiber optic internet services in at least 14 provinces of Afghanistan. This action has not only deprived thousands of citizens of access to education, work, and vital communications, but according to “Nai in Exile,” it is part of the group’s organized effort to “cover up crimes against humanity and shut the last windows of hope for women and girls to education.” Nai in Exile warned in a statement that with this decision, the Taliban are effectively turning Afghanistan into a “second North Korea,” with the difference that in Afghanistan restrictions on women and girls are imposed to the maximum and with even greater brutality. The organization said: “Cutting the internet means silencing the truth, increasing war crimes, and preventing their documentation at the global level.” According to this organization, by shutting down the vital lifeline of the internet, the Taliban have placed citizens in darkness and isolation, seeking to deprive Afghan society of its basic rights, especially freedom of expression and the right to education. The statement also stressed that online education was the last relative solution for Afghan girls in the face of Taliban restrictions, but now, with this measure, that too has been completely destroyed. In the past three days, the Taliban have cut fiber optic internet in the provinces of Balkh, Kandahar, Helmand, Herat, Uruzgan, Nimroz, Kunduz, Takhar, Badakhshan, Baghlan, Paktika, Laghman, Nangarhar, and Kunar. Reliable sources state that this action was taken under the direct order of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader. Although mobile network internet remains active, these services are insufficient and ineffective, particularly for education, media, and online businesses. According to Nai in Exile, the Taliban are not only seeking to control cyberspace and monitor phone conversations, but also to turn Afghanistan into a “silent prison,” where no voice of crime, repression, or resistance from the people can reach the outside world.

Image: Associated Press Following the controversial move by the Taliban to cut fiber optic internet services in several provinces, a wave of concern and dissatisfaction has spread among citizens. The disruption of this vital service has not only created serious challenges for people’s economic and commercial activities, but has also paralyzed students’ and pupils’ education, online medical services, information dissemination, and other essential sectors of society. One resident of Jalalabad, a province where internet services were completely cut off by the Taliban yesterday, told Zan News: “Our lives depend on the internet, from children’s education to business transactions and contacting relatives abroad. Now everything has stopped. This decision of the Taliban drives us into absolute backwardness.” Nangarhar, known as one of the commercial hubs of eastern Afghanistan, is now facing the risk of local economic collapse. Traders, company owners, and transport drivers who rely on online communications and digital data exchange are complaining of massive losses. At the same time, teachers and students warn that if this situation continues, the educational process, which was already facing Taliban restrictions, will be effectively destroyed. A female teacher, who did not want her name disclosed for security reasons, told Zan News: “We were secretly and with great difficulty providing education to girls through the internet. Now even this small window has been closed.” According to reports, the Taliban had previously cut internet access in the provinces of Kandahar, Badakhshan, Balkh, Kunduz, Baghlan, Zabul, and several others. The Taliban, in justifying this action, said their goal was to “fight against immoralities and preserve the moral security of society,” a claim that has faced widespread domestic and international reactions. Human rights activists, civil society, and international organizations stress that cutting off the internet is not a fight against immoralities but a suppression of freedom of expression and the deprivation of people’s right to access information. Meanwhile, analysts warn that with the expansion of this trend, Afghanistan is moving toward a “digital blackout,” a situation where not only access to global information disappears, but the people of the country are also deprived of dialogue with the world. While the world emphasizes facilitating access to technology and information, Afghanistan under Taliban rule is moving in the opposite direction, a path that carries dire consequences for the future of millions of Afghans, especially the younger generation.

Photo: UNICEF/Amin Meerzad On the occasion of the fourth year of girls being deprived of education in Afghanistan, UNICEF issued a statement once again warning about the catastrophic consequences of the Taliban’s policy, describing it as “one of the defining injustices of our time.” Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, said on Wednesday (September 17): “For four years, adolescent girls in Afghanistan have been barred from education beyond grade six. By the end of 2050, more than 2.2 million girls will have been denied their right to education.” She added that the return of over two million Afghan migrants from neighboring countries this year has further increased the number of girls excluded from school. Russell stressed that after the recent devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, which took the lives of more than 1,170 children, the importance of female health and social workers became more evident than ever: “Women are essential for humanitarian efforts, particularly in a society where strict gender segregation limits male workers’ ability to respond to the needs of women and families. If these professions and many others are to be preserved, girls must be educated.” According to UNICEF, this ban not only destroys the personal future of millions of girls but also poses a serious threat to Afghanistan’s stability and progress: “No country can advance when half of its population is ignored.” UNICEF stated that girls deprived of education are not only losing their school lessons but also missing opportunities for personal growth, social connections, building a future, and realizing their potential. The organization also warned of increasing mental health issues, forced marriages, and early pregnancies among girls confined to their homes. UNICEF once again called on the Taliban to immediately lift this ban and allow all Afghan girls, from primary school to university, to have access to education. It should be noted that on September 17, 2021, only weeks after returning to power, the Taliban closed secondary schools to girls. This restriction, which has now lasted more than 1,200 days, has deprived more than 1.4 million girls of education. The Taliban later closed universities as well and imposed even stricter restrictions on women’s social life and freedoms. Human rights organizations describe these policies as a “systematic assault on women’s rights and girls’ education,” which is driving Afghanistan further into crisis and backwardness.

Photo: AFP/ArabNews The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO), in a statement, strongly condemned the Taliban’s shutdown and restriction of fiber optic internet in several provinces of the country. AMSO has warned that this action, implemented under the order of the Taliban leader, not only deprives millions of citizens of access to free information and essential services, but also places media activities under more serious threat than ever before. The statement said: “Today, the internet is a fundamental human right and an important tool for education, information, advocacy, and social communication. Cutting it off under unjustified pretexts amounts to widespread censorship and an attempt to silence the voices of the people and the media.” The organization has called on the international community and human rights defenders to take a firm stance against these restrictions and to pressure the Taliban to immediately restore internet services throughout Afghanistan. This reaction comes as the Taliban in recent days have completely blocked fiber optic internet services in the provinces of Balkh, Badakhshan, Kandahar, Helmand, Kunduz, and Takhar. Local Taliban officials in Nangarhar have also announced that this process will soon be extended to other eastern provinces.

Image Credit: Envato Elements / Artem_ka (Licensed to Zan TV) The Taliban have extended restrictions on internet services beyond Balkh and Badakhshan, and now to the provinces of Kunduz and Takhar. Local sources in these two provinces confirm that, at the order of the Taliban governors, access to fiber optic internet has been completely suspended and all service providers have been forced to disconnect users. Residents of Kunduz and Takhar say that since Tuesday (September 16), they no longer have access to home and office Wi-Fi, and the only remaining option is to use mobile data. At the same time, Taliban officials in Nangarhar have also announced that fiber optic internet will soon be blocked in this province and other eastern regions. Qureshi Badlon, Head of Information at the Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture in Nangarhar, said this decision was made at the order of the Taliban leader to “prevent moral corruption” and “reform society.” Sources in Laghman have also reported a sharp decline in internet speed and are concerned that similar restrictions may be imposed in that province as well. So far, fiber optic internet has been completely blocked in the provinces of Balkh, Badakhshan, Kandahar, Helmand, Kunduz, and Takhar, and there are signs that this policy will be extended to other provinces. Sources to Zan News: Taliban Seeking “Selective Internet” Well-informed sources told Zan News that the Taliban have a multi-stage plan to restrict internet access across Afghanistan. In the first stage, all Wi-Fi, fiber optic, and DSL services are suspended. The next step will target mobile networks, where only individuals with a “special permit” from the Taliban will be granted very limited access to the internet, mainly WhatsApp. A source in one of the telecommunications companies in Herat also confirmed that in a recent meeting of the ATRA department, an order was issued for the complete shutdown of fiber optic and DSL services. According to him, only WhatsApp will remain active for domestic users, and only for those who have work or trade abroad and succeed in obtaining a permit from the Taliban. Afghanistan on the Verge of a “Digital Prison” The Taliban have repeatedly called the internet the “root of immorality” and a “means of corruption,” but in reality, this policy is part of a broader strategy to control the flow of information and silence the voice of society. Cutting the internet, in addition to depriving people of online education, banking services, and daily communications, serves as a tool to prevent media coverage of protests and to conceal human rights violations. The experience of September 2021, in the early days of the Taliban’s return to power, showed that the group deliberately cut internet access in Kabul, especially in non-Pashtun areas, to prevent civil organization and public protests. This trend is pushing Afghanistan toward a “digital prison,” a situation that threatens not only freedom of expression but also the education, economy, and social life of millions of citizens, especially women and children.

Social Media Local sources in Zabul say that the Taliban have also banned access to the internet in this province. Residents say the Taliban have considered the internet “immoral” and have ordered telecommunication companies to cut off services. This move comes after the internet was cut off in the provinces of Badakhshan, Balkh, Kandahar and Helmand. Citizens say this decision has negatively affected their education, business and daily communications. The Taliban in these provinces have described the reason for cutting the internet as a new order from their leader and have said that, according to this decree, the use of the internet is among the immoral acts.

Social Media As part of the systematic project of repression and darkening of Afghanistan, the Taliban this time have declared the use of the internet in Helmand province prohibited. This decision was made after, in recent days, access to the internet in the provinces of Badakhshan, Balkh and Kandahar was completely cut off, and the Taliban officially called its use “immoral” and “forbidden.” Now it is Helmand’s turn, another key province that the Taliban have silenced by crushing digital freedom. According to local reports, all telecommunication and internet networks in Helmand have gone out of service, and no operator provides active services. Sources confirm that the Taliban have given direct orders to telecommunication companies to cut internet services and to criminalize any activity related to cyberspace. In some areas, even the use of smartphones has faced threats and prosecution. This is the fourth province in recent weeks where the Taliban have banned access to the internet. First Badakhshan, then Balkh, after that Kandahar, and now Helmand. This process shows that the Taliban are step by step implementing a precise plan to completely cut Afghanistan off from the digital space and free information. Eliminating the internet is part of a broader strategy for the total destruction of freedom of expression, connection with the outside world, and silencing of any independent or opposing voice. The internet is not merely a technological tool; for millions of Afghans, this global network is a source of life, from education and work to contacting migrant families, receiving information in times of crisis, and even access to uncensored news. By shutting down the internet, the Taliban have practically closed the society’s window to breathe and thrown the people into a digital prison, where silence is mandatory and the only crime is to be heard. Some religious scholars say that the Taliban calling the internet “immoral” has neither a basis in religion nor in ethics, but is a clear attempt to silence the truth. One religious scholar, who did not want his name revealed, told Zan News: “A society where no news is published, no voice is raised, and no image is seen, is the very society that the Taliban want to create: obedient, dark, isolated and voiceless.” On the other hand, media activists say that with every province added to the Taliban’s blacklist, the alarm for all of Afghanistan rings louder. This is not just a technical cut, not just a simple blackout. This is a declaration of war against awareness, against freedom, and against humanity. The world must not remain indifferent in the face of this dark and anti-human project. Wais Najafi, one of the freedom of expression activists, said: “If today Helmand goes silent, tomorrow Kabul, Nangarhar and Herat will also be in line. This war is a war for voice, and if we do not shout now, tomorrow we may not even be able to whisper.”