Taliban Leaders Ban Wi-Fi In Afghanistan's Balkh Province From 'preventing'

Illustration of the Taliban. (Source: TASS)

JAKARTA - The Taliban's supreme leader issued a ban on Wi-Fi access in one of Afghanistan's provinces to "prevent injury".

The decision taken in Balkh Province is the first since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. As a result, offices and homes do not have Wi-Fi, although the mobile internet is still functioning.

Haji Attaullah Zaid, spokesman for the provincial government, said the "full ban" was ordered by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

"This step is taken to prevent death, and alternatives will be built domestically to meet needs," he told the Associated Press quoted from The National September 17.

He did not explain why Balkh was chosen or whether the closure would extend to other regions in Afghanistan.

Previously, authorities sometimes suspended cell phone networks to prevent explosives explosions, for example during religious festivals.

A resident of Balkh said that cellular internet is slow and expensive, so people in his house need Wi-Fi.

"Blocking the internet is beyond my understanding in such an advanced era," he said.

The Taliban have imposed a series of restrictions on behalf of "morality" since seizing power from former US-backed governments four years ago, particularly those impacting women and girls.

The law imposed by the Taliban enforces dress codes, requires women to have male guardians, and separates men and women in public spaces.

Perempuan bahkan dapat dihukum karena menyanyi atau berbicara di luar ruangan, dan laki-laki serta anak-laki juga menghadapi "aturan ketat" terkait penampilan mereka, kata para aktor PBB.