The BBC is paying money to “the Taliban’s propaganda wing” to ensure it can continue broadcasting in Afghanistan, a report has claimed.
Since Islamic terrorists seized Kabul in August 2021, the fundamentalist regime has censored multiple media companies and forced radio stations off air.
But the BBC remains able to broadcast from the country, in part because of payments to Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA).
The payments cover rent for housing BBC FM equipment at RTA sites, as well as security for those locations.
The Taliban in Afghanistan
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The payments come amid growing criticism of the BBC’s operations in Afghanistan.
Elliot Keck, head of campaigns at the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Taxpayers will feel sick to the stomach by what the BBC is doing in Afghanistan.”
“The BBC is funding what is effectively the propaganda wing of the Taliban.”
“If the price of remaining in Afghanistan involves bending over backwards to Taliban demands then the BBC should consider pulling out.”
Meanwhile, the Taliban continues to restrict the freedoms of women, minority groups and others.
A British couple were arrested just last week by the Taliban.
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Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, had been running training projects in schools in the country for the past 18 years.
They were detained on their way home on February 1.
A BBC spokesman defended the corporation’s position, saying: “The BBC is editorially independent throughout its programming, irrespective of the language service, and remains the only international news media organisation still broadcasting inside Afghanistan.”
“We make rental payments to RTA to enable distribution, via the BBC FM network, of independent and impartial news to audiences throughout the country.”
The spokesman added: “The BBC has robust compliance procedures in place to ensure it complies with UK sanctions.”
The UK does not maintain comprehensive sanctions against the Taliban but has designated specific individuals and entities within Afghanistan.
Hamas terrorists
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The Taliban controversy comes as the BBC recently removed its documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone” from iPlayer after it emerged that it had prominently featured the son of a Hamas minister.
Gary Lineker and other television industry figures have since criticised the corporation, accusing it of bowing to “censorship” and racism.
Meanwhile, the BBC’s charitable wing, BBC Media Action, which operates independently of the broadcaster, reportedly contributes to the regime by paying income tax on staff salaries and operating costs.
These costs include vehicle registration and licensing, which are required for any organisation operating in Afghanistan.
A BBC Media Action spokesman said: “Our work in Afghanistan plays a critical role supporting local journalists to provide life-saving information on matters including health, nutrition and food security.”
The spokesman clarified: “To be clear, RTA receives no training, equipment or funding from BBC Media Action.”
BBC Broadcasting HousePA“BBC Media Action operates in full compliance with applicable sanctions.”
In the 2023-24 tax year, US taxpayer-funded agency USAid gave £2.6 million to BBC Media Action, making it the organisation’s largest donor.
The charitable organisation trains journalists and helps improve communications in some of the world’s poorest countries.
BBC Media Action also supports local radio stations to maintain “some of the last remaining women journalists working in radio” in Afghanistan.
However, in February, then-President Donald Trump began shutting down USAid, after saying it “was run by a bunch of radical lunatics”.
There is no suggestion that the BBC or BBC Media Action are breaking sanctions.
The controversy highlights tensions between maintaining a media presence in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and concerns about indirectly supporting the regime.
Critics argue the BBC should reconsider its operations if they require financial arrangements with Taliban-affiliated entities.
However, the BBC maintains these payments are necessary to continue providing independent news to Afghan audiences.
The corporation emphasises it remains the only international news organisation still broadcasting inside Afghanistan.
This situation reflects broader challenges faced by Western organisations operating in countries under sanctioned or controversial regimes.