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Afghan university professor Faizullah Jalal has appeared in debates on Afghanistan’s most popular television channels for years, earning a reputation as an outspoken critic of the country’s leaders.
During a live television debate on the popular Tolo News channel on November 20, Jalal accused the Taliban of monopolizing power and stifling free speech.
“I feel pain because of the current situation in Kabul,” said Jalal, a professor of law and political science at Kabul University. “People do not have anything to eat. What is the security like? No one can say anything.”
While many Afghans critics and activists may not be able to openly talk about the current situation of Afghanistan, Professor Jalal very courageously calls the Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem, who also took part in the debate, a “calf,” an insult in Afghanistan that means stupid. That came after Naeem questioned Jalal’s sanity and alleged he was a communist.
Professor Jalal’s comments went viral on social media, where many Afghans applauded him for his bravery. In a symbolic show of solidarity, some Afghans displayed his picture on their social media profiles.
But this didn’t go well with the Taliban and Zakir Jalali, a Taliban Foreign minister official tweeted “Jalal is a biased person and mentally ill, “Officials should seriously question Jalal and Tolo News.”
The call for Jalal to be punished have raised fears that the professor could be the target of Taliban retaliation.
Afghanistan's vibrant media scene has changed drastically since the Taliban took over the country on August 15. Every telecast on television goes under thorough censorship of the Taliban before telecast.
State television now airs Taliban announcements and Islamic sermons while private TV networks have removed many entertainment shows and replaced most female presenters with male colleagues.
Read more here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/gandhara.rferl.org/amp/afghan-professor-criticism-taliban/31573700.html