The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has initiated a campaign against the depiction of living beings in images and videos.

A representative from the ministry announced on Saturday that filming and displaying such images in offices or homes contravenes Islamic law.

Under Article 17 of the Taliban’s Law on the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, filming or photographing living beings, or creatures with souls, is prohibited.

The Taliban has officially begun efforts to restrict filming, video recording, and the operations of certain visual media outlets in various provinces. The group asserts that, according to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, photography constitutes a “major sin.”

On Saturday, the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue released a statement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) featuring remarks from Mohammad Yahya Arif, a Mufti of the ministry. In the statement, Arif declared, “Filming all creatures with souls, including donkeys, dogs, lions, and birds, is forbidden. These images should neither be sold nor purchased, nor should they be kept in homes.”

Addressing the public, the Mufti further noted that “photographing animals like donkeys and birds serves no purpose.”

Arif stressed that “when the Promotion of Virtue declares that images are prohibited and against Sharia, this is not a personal opinion; it is an order derived from Sharia and the teachings of the Prophet of God.”

He called on the public to refrain from photography and the display of images, asserting that these actions are regarded as sinful and would invite “divine punishment.”

Some scholars within the Islamic world have criticised the Taliban’s stance, viewing it as a reflection of their extreme interpretation of Islam. This view contrasts with the interpretations held by other Islamic scholars and institutions, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

There are even scholars who argue that the Taliban’s extremist interpretations contribute to tarnishing the image of Islam.

In line with this stance, the Taliban have classified visual media operations as contrary to Sharia and have officially initiated efforts to close them down. This process began in Kandahar and has since spread to Takhar, where local television stations were ordered to cease operations.

On Saturday, reports emerged suggesting that the Taliban plans to halt broadcasts of Afghanistan’s national television network.