Afghanistan Goes Dark As Taliban Imposes Nationwide Communications Blackout

"The Taliban has imposed a nationwide shutdown of telecommunications in Afghanistan, a move that has largely cut off the country from the rest of the world. The hard-line Islamist group severed access to fiber-optic Internet across Afghanistan on September 29. Mobile phone networks, which share the same system, were also mostly shut down. The move has sparked chaos in Afghanistan, disrupting flights and cutting people off from banking and e-commerce systems as well as online jobs and schools."

"Internet watchdog NetBlocks said late on September 29 that Afghanistan was "in the midst of a total Internet blackout." The Taliban has not given an official reason for the shutdown. But the communications blackout came weeks after the group started blocking access to fiber-optic Internet in several provinces. The group said the move was intended to prevent "immorality," with the Taliban previously voicing concern over pornography and online intimacy between men and women."

"Critics have said the decision is part of a wider crackdown on individual freedoms and the free flow of information. Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has severely restricted the rights of Afghans, especially women, and violently cracked down on dissent. The Taliban has used its own interpretation of Islamic Shari'a law to justify its extremist policies. But Islamic scholars say there is no religious grounds for the group's decision to shut down the Internet."

The Taliban severed fiber-optic Internet across Afghanistan on September 29 and mostly shut down mobile phone networks, producing a near-total telecommunications blackout. The shutdown disrupted flights, banking, e-commerce, online jobs, and schools, leaving many Afghans cut off from global communication. Internet watchdog NetBlocks reported a total Internet blackout. The Taliban has not provided an official reason but had previously blocked fiber connections in some provinces and said the action aims to prevent "immorality." Critics view the measure as part of a broader crackdown on individual freedoms. The shutdown affected ordinary citizens, private businesses, government offices, and the national economy. Since seizing power in 2021 the Taliban has already restricted rights, especially of women, and justified policies using its interpretation of Shari'a, though Islamic scholars say no religious grounds exist for an Internet shutdown.

Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty