By The South Asia Times

KABUL - The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has condemned the closure of Lapis, an affiliate of the Moby media group, by Taliban intelligence authorities in Kabul, describing the move as a further escalation in restrictions on independent media and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.

According to the AFJC, personnel from the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) raided Lapis’ office in Kabul’s Wazir Akbar Khan area on August 26. Staff members were ordered to leave the premises, while computers and data-storage devices were confiscated without prior notice or explanation, the media watchdog said.

AFJC sources in Kabul, who requested anonymity because of security concerns, said GDI officials told Lapis staff that the case would be referred to judicial authorities following an investigation into material allegedly violating local values and promoting what authorities described as Western narratives.

Lapis is affiliated with the Moby Group, which operates several major Afghan media outlets, including TOLO TV, TOLOnews, Lemar TV and Arman and Arakozia radio stations.

According to information cited by AFJC, Lapis plays a supporting role in Afghanistan’s media sector by producing and placing advertisements, including public health and education campaigns, with local media organisations. It also provides journalist training and contributes to staff capacity-building.

The GDI-affiliated Hindukush platform claimed that Lapis was closed over what it described as “obscene and immoral content,” including songs, scenes from films and Western-style visual material.

AFJC rejected what it viewed as the justification for the closure and said the confiscation of equipment and threat of judicial proceedings raised concerns about due process and the ability of media-support organisations to operate without intimidation.

The organisation called on the Taliban authorities to immediately reverse the closure, return the confiscated equipment and allow Lapis employees to resume their work without fear of reprisals.

The latest incident comes amid broader concerns over the state of media freedom in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

Afghan journalists and media organisations have faced restrictions on what they can report, increasing pressure from the Taliban and rules governing broadcast and online content. Journalists have also reported difficulties working under regulations that restrict subjects considered sensitive or contrary to the Taliban authorities’ interpretation of Islamic and social values.

The restrictions have contributed to a difficult operating environment for independent media organisations, with journalists and outlets facing warnings, interrogations and other forms of pressure.

In a separate development, Afghan human rights advocate Erfanullah Abidi said on social media that the Taliban had removed faculties of Law, Political Science and International Relations from Afghanistan’s universities.

Abidi, founder of Afghan Girls’ Underground Schools and a human rights advocate, argued that the changes could have significant consequences for Afghanistan’s education system and the intellectual development of a new generation.

He said the subjects were among the fields Afghanistan most needed, arguing that their removal alongside an expansion of religious subjects could influence how students understand law, governance, political institutions and international engagement.

His comments could not independently establish the scope or implementation of the reported changes across Afghanistan’s university system.

The developments reflect wider concerns about the direction of education and public life under Taliban rule, particularly regarding the space available for subjects associated with political participation, international relations and critical inquiry.

Since taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban authorities have imposed sweeping changes across the country's political, social and educational systems. Women and girls have faced particularly severe restrictions, including a ban on secondary and higher education for girls and extensive limitations on women's participation in public life.

For Afghanistan's media sector, journalists and press freedom advocates say restrictions on content, combined with pressure on media organisations, have narrowed the space for independent reporting.

The AFJC said the closure of Lapis should therefore be viewed not simply as an action against an individual company but as a development that could affect the wider ecosystem supporting Afghan journalism.

The organisation warned that targeting media-support institutions can weaken the ability of local outlets to train journalists, produce public-interest content and maintain sustainable operations.

For Afghan journalists working under increasingly restrictive conditions, the closure adds to concerns over whether independent media can continue operating while navigating increasingly strict rules on content and expression.