The Taliban government has shut down all access to the internet in Afghanistan in an attempt to block access to Christian content and enforce “Islamic” morality.
According to recent reports, the entire country of Afghanistan is experiencing an internet blackout after the Taliban began severing fibre-optic internet connections to prevent access to ‘immoral’ websites like those with Christian teachings.
This blackout is not just internet, but is also mobile phone and satellite communications. Although many international news agencies say they have lost contact with offices in the capital Kabul, BTJ currently still has contact with our missionaries on the ground.
The Taliban said an alternative route for internet access would be created, without giving any details. This could mean that the Taliban is possibly working with China to create an extreme firewall like the “Great Firewall of China” to control the content that people are able to see.
Afghanistan is now on track to be in the same league as North Korea in terms of access to internet and the nation is already seeing the impact of it.
Flights from Kabul airport have been disrupted, with Flightradar24 reporting at least eight flights scheduled to depart from or arrive to Kabul International Airport on Tuesday being cancelled. Bank services were shut down. The country is truly being thrown back into the stone ages.
BTJ currently has special methods of communicating with missionaries on the ground that have not been completely shut down during this time and we are thankful to have current contact.
