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| Afghanistan |
| Taliban Rebels Impose Taxes on Media Outlets in Restive Ghazni |
| 2018-02-22 |
| [VOA News] In an effort to find new ways of financing their insurgency, Taliban ...the Pashtun equivalent of men... rebels have turned to local media for taxation and threatened news outlets in central Afghanistan with punitive measures if they refuse to give in to the Lion of Islam group’s demands. The Taliban has recently demanded that media outlets in central Ghazni province disclose their revenue so the group can impose taxes. "The Taliban contacted us by telephone at the start of the spring and demanded 200,000 Afghanis [$4,000], saying it was the tax they are now imposing on media throughout the country," Ahmad Farid Omari, managing editor of a local TV station, told VOA. "We reported the threats to Afghan officials many times, but no action was taken. After several reminders and threats, we finally paid." Omari added. Reporters without Borders, or RSF, a global watchdog group overseeing media freedom, also reported Monday that Taliban gunnies have been threatening to bar media organizations across the province from operating if they refuse to pay the money. Afghan officials, however, have downplayed the issue, saying the practice is not widespread and that the government has taken the necessary measures to ensure the security of media organizations. |
| Posted by:Fred |