25/06/2026 23:37 - Internacionales
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has issued a directive banning the use of smartphones for all public officials, from high-ranking officers to service personnel, as reported by The Guardian based on official documents.
The measure, ordered by the group's military courts and reviewed by the British media outlet, came into effect this week and strictly prohibits the use of mobile phones by 'high rank, low rank, general mujahideen, or service personnel'.
The order states that 'if anyone uses one, their mobile phone will be destroyed and a legal and sharia punishment will be imposed on the violator'.
In videos broadcast on social media, Taliban officials can be seen reading the prohibition order while others smash phones with hammers, a scene that has raised alarms about the state of civil rights in the country.
Any exemption would require a written decree from the Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Although the directive officially targets government employees, reports from inside Afghanistan indicate uneven implementation.
In some cities and provinces, the ban already extends to women, civilians, medical workers, teachers, and students.
Analysts consulted suggest this could be a test for a total national ban, similar to the internet shutdown ordered last September.
The reasons behind this decision lie in the fear of internal leaks and the perception of lost productivity. Officials use their smartphones to photograph documents and record meetings, which has resulted in leaks before the supreme leader approves them.
Furthermore, there is concern about the use of employees' time. 'People are on their phones all the time and not working,' explained one analyst, pointing out that the difference is that no other country legislates against this in such a draconian manner.
The measure also follows protests in the western city of Herat, where the Taliban arrested women for 'incorrect hijab'. In those demonstrations, Taliban forces fired on the crowd, causing at least two deaths. Videos of those incidents, captured on phones, had alarmed the regime, which tried to deny the events before the images circulated globally.
A government employee in Herat recounted that they confiscated and destroyed his phone valued at 8,000 afghanis (about 95 pounds), calling the loss an act of disproportionate force.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
