UN Denounces Taliban’s Threat Against Afghan Media
The United Nations has denounced the Taliban for publicly threatening to turn media outlets in Afghanistan into military targets, stressing freedom of the press is critical and civilians should never be deliberately targeted with violence. The Islamist insurgent group earlier this week warned Afghan television and radio stations against airing government-funded advertisements and gave them one week to stop the campaign. In a statement issued Monday, the Taliban warned media organizations that refuse to stop the “propaganda” they will be considered “military targets” and not independent news outlets, and staff working for them will not be safe. “I unequivocally condemn this threat and call for it to be rescinded, as words must never be met with violence. The only acceptable challenge to words is to advance a better argument,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The messages in question call on Afghans to inform authorities if they see any suspicious Taliban activities. The “reprehensible threats”, said Yamamoto, “delegitimize the Taliban and deprive it of any claim to represent the people of Afghanistan.” He stressed that media workers are civilians and their fundamental right to operate in an environment free from any threat must …