Pakistan Taliban-linked religious scholars issue decree against media persons

The Pakistani Taliban-linked religious scholars have issued an edict against the media for what they claimed journalists are “siding with secularism and the West in the on-going war, calling the ‘Mujahideen” as terrorists and anti-peace, using the word of martyr for slain security forces and promoting vulgarity and obscenity among the Muslims.”

The decree, posted on a website of militants, has named certain Urdu and regional languages radio stations and called for actions against their reporters and other media persons.

The Urdu language ‘fatwa’, released on http://jihadepakistan.tk/, said that the media persons should first be given a warning and pardon them if they stop “enmity with Islam and propaganda against Muslims.” But action should be taken in line with Jehadi policy against those who insist to continue their work,” it said.

“Media persons and journalists are in great numbers, and the government (Pakistan) is protecting them. Pakistan does not have an Islamic government therefore whenever Mujahideen find them they should fight and kill them,” the decree said.

The decree, issued by “Shura-e-Ulema-e-Mujahideen” of the Tehrike-e-Taliban Pakistan, said that using the word of martyr for the slain security personnel is part of the anti-Taliban propaganda.

“The media sparks sentiments against the Muslims and the Mujahideen and is showing anti-Taliban plays,” it said, adding media persons are using words of terrorist, miscreants, extremist and anti-peace for the “Mujahideen”.

The decree said the media persons are giving impression that infidel forces are powerful with having weapons and defence equipment and the Muslims face problems and will not be in a position to fight them.

“The media is giving an impression that the Muslims areas are facing a lot of problems while it portrays the lives of the Muslims in the US and the West as prosperous.”

"Reporters of Deewa, Mishal, Azadi, Ap Ki Dunya (Urdu), and BBC in particular and other journalists in general are harmful. You should act against them in proper phases," the edict said. 

The decree said TV channels are promoting vulgar culture and half-naked women are shown on the TV screens. “Media is the strong source for the promotion of the current un-Islamic system. “

Naming some American radio channels, the edict said that they are telling Pashtoon that the Taliban have destroyed their culture.

The media is exaggerating number of the Taliban casualties and issuing baseless news of the arrest of Taliban commanders.

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