Mohammad Jawad Mohseni, the head of Tamadon TV, has denied the Taliban Ministry of Justice's accusations that this private media outlet is affiliated with a political party and has usurped government land.
Mohseni stated that the land for Tamadon TV "was purchased from a private owner and is not government-owned”.
He also mentioned that Asif Mohseni, the former head of Harakat e Islami, resigned from the party before Tamadon TV was established in 2005.
Mohseni, the current head of Tamadon TV, is the grandson of Asif Mohseni, the founder of this private media outlet.
In a text published by Tamadon TV on X social media platform, Mohseni is quoted as saying, "The land for Tamadon TV was purchased from a private owner and has a legitimate and legal title deed, and it is not and has never been government property."
The text also requests the Taliban to appoint a committee to review their documents and evidence.
Previously, Barakatullah Rasouli, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Justice had stated that "Tamadon TV, Khatam al-Nabieen madrassa, and Khatam al-Nabieen University belong to Harakat e Islami party."
This Taliban official had claimed that the buildings of all these institutions were constructed on usurped government lands.
However, Mohseni said that the Khatam al-Nabieen University building is rented and that the land for the Khatam al-Nabieen madrassa was legally acquired by Asif Mohseni during the previous government.
Previously, the Taliban had shut down two private TV channels, "Noor" and "Barya”.
Reports indicate that these two private media outlets were shut down due to their affiliations with the Jamiat-e Islami Party and the Hezb-e Islami Party of Afghanistan.
The Taliban Ministry of Justice has announced that political party activities are prohibited in Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan Journalists Centre described the Taliban's action to close Tamadon TV as an instance of suppressing media and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.
