Afghanistan's Taliban government imposes nationwide ban on civil servants' smartphone use

KABUL - Afghanistan's Taliban government has ordered a nationwide ban on civil servants' smartphone use, a military court order showed, prompting warnings from rights activists that the move could further restrict access to information.

The court order seen by Reuters states that smartphone use by "all officials of the military and civilian institutions, including judges" will be prohibited from June 16.

Violators will have their cellphones smashed and face punishment under the law, the order said.

The Taliban administration did not respond to a request for comment.

Government employees said the restriction had already disrupted official work, while at least one provincial authority has announced an immediate implementation of the ban.

"The impact has been so significant that many administrative processes have effectively come to a halt, because most official work was previously carried out through mobile phones, WhatsApp, and email," a government employee said.

The governor of Panjshir province said in a statement the ban would be implemented inside all its offices.

Rights advocates said smartphones remain one of the few tools Afghans use to access education, document abuses, communicate privately and reach uncensored information.

They said the order could mark another step in the Taliban's tightening control over public life since returning to power in August 2021.

Since then, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls, the media and civil society. Girls remain barred from secondary schools and universities, many women have been pushed out of employment, and activists and journalists have reported intimidation, detention and censorship.

"Today, a smartphone is no longer just a source of entertainment," said Sanam Kabiri, a women's rights activist based in Australia.

"When its use is prohibited in government offices, it raises concerns that the objective may extend beyond maintaining administrative order to also restricting access to information and communication."

-Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul; Editing by Saad Sayeed and Timothy Heritage/Reuters