Law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vices
Responsibilities of the Overseer Regarding Media and Information

Article Seventeen: The overseer is responsible for ensuring that media and information officials adhere to the following:
1. Publishing content that does not contradict Sharia and religion.
2. Avoiding content that belittles or insults Muslims.
3. Avoiding the publication of images of living creatures.

Article 17 institutionalizes media censorship under Taliban governance by criminalizing content that deviates from the regime’s interpretation of Islamic norms. The explicit ban on "images of living creatures" curtails artistic freedom, journalism, educational materials, and even medical or scientific illustration. Additionally, the vague prohibitions on “belittling” Islam create a chilling effect on any critical discourse. This codifies ideological control over media and undermines international standards for freedom of expression and cultural rights