Twitter Better For Freedom of Speech', Says Senior Afghan Taliban Official - World

7/13/23, 3:06 PM Twitter better for ‘freedom of speech’, says senior Afghan Taliban official - World - DAWN.
COM
TODAY'S PAPER | JULY 13, 2023
Twitter better for ‘freedom of speech’, says senior Afghan

Taliban official
AFP | Published July 11, 2023 | Updated 2 days ago
0:00 / 3:19 1x 1.2x 1.5x
Twitter owner Elon Musk’s freewheeling approach to the platform’s handling of censorship has won
support from an unlikely quarter — Afghanistan’s Taliban.
Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban leader without an official portfolio, said late on Monday that Twitter had “two important
advantages” over other social media platforms following the launch of Meta-owned rival Threads.
“The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the public nature and credibility of Twitter,” he tweeted.
“Twitter doesn’t have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1764158/twitter-better-for-freedom-of-speech-says-senior-afghan-taliban-official 1/17
7/13/23, 3:06 PM Twitter better for ‘freedom of speech’, says senior Afghan Taliban official - World - DAWN.COM
Anas Haqqani(‫)انس حقاني‬

@AnasHaqqani313 · Follow
Twitter has two important advantages over other social

media platforms.
The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second
privilege is the public nature & credibility of Twitter.
Twitter doesn't have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other
platforms cannot replace it.
6:25 PM · Jul 10, 2023
2.4K Reply Copy link
Read 844 replies
The remarks drew an angry reaction from some users, who noted the Taliban government did not allow its own citizens the
same rights.
The Taliban had a low-key presence on social media until they stormed back to power in August 2021. Before that, many of
their accounts — and those of sympathisers — were frequently blocked as fast as they were created.
Now the government uses Twitter as a major vehicle for announcements, and most ministries and provincial departments
have official accounts, although none appear to have paid for a blue tick since Twitter scrapped its verification system earlier
this year.
Meta — owner of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and now Threads — is still actively shutting down accounts associated
with the Taliban.
Social media observers say accounts with the name “Taliban”, “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” or featuring the movement’s
distinctive flag rarely last long.
Last year, Facebook shuttered the pages of state-owned Radio Television Afghanistan and Bakhtar News Agency, saying at
the time it was complying with laws in the United States listing the Taliban as a “terrorist organisation”.
Under Musk, who bought Twitter last year, bans on tens of thousands of accounts — including former US president Donald
Trump — were swiftly reversed.
Many had been suspended for reasons such as denying US election results, spreading misinformation about Covid, peddling
conspiracy theories or promoting extremist ideologies.
‘Sweet veneer’
Haqqani — son of famed anti-Russian mujahideen fighter turned Taliban Jalaluddin Haqqani, and brother of interior
minister Sirajuddin Haqqani — is one of the movement’s youngest political leaders.
With more than half a million followers on Twitter, he frequently opines — often in English — on subjects ranging from
cricket and poetry to local and global politics.
Several people were swift to criticise his free speech comments Tuesday, pointing to what they characterised as the
“hypocrisy” of the remarks.
RELATED
The social media activity of ordinary Afghans is closely monitored by the Taliban authorities, and several people have been
detained and questioned for posts critical of the Taliban government.
“How shameful it is for you to talk about freedom of expression,” wrote Homeira Qaderi, an exiled author and activist.
Homeira Qaderi
@QaderiHomeira · Follow
In your repressive regime, my brother who is a journalist,

was imprisoned for a year just for expressing his opinion.
How shameful it is for you to talk about freedom of
expression.
Anas Haqqani(‫@ )انس حقاني‬AnasHaqqani313

Twitter has two important advantages over other social media platforms.
The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is the
public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn't have an intolerant
policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it.
11:17 PM · Jul 10, 2023
107 Reply Copy link
Read 6 replies
Another exile, journalist and activist Natiq Malikzada, tweeted: “Lol, lauding freedom of speech as a sweet veneer to mask
your dark regime, while thousands inside Afghanistan languish in jail for criticising your oppressive rule.
“Hypocrisy at its finest.”
Anas Haqqani(‫ · )انس حقاني‬Jul 10, 2023

@AnasHaqqani313 · Follow
Twitter has two important advantages over other social media
platforms.
The first privilege is the freedom of speech. The second privilege is
the public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn't have an
intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it.
Natiq Malikzada
@natiqmalikzada · Follow
Lol, lauding freedom of speech as a sweet veneer to mask

your dark regime, while thousands inside Afghanistan
languish in jail for criticizing your oppressive rule...
Hypocrisy at its finest.
7:42 PM · Jul 10, 2023
421 Reply Copy link
Read 5 replies
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7/13/23, 3:06 PM Twitter better for ‘freedom of speech’, says senior Afghan Taliban official - World - DAWN.

TODAY'S PAPER | JULY 13, 2023

Twitter better for ‘freedom of speech’, says senior Afghan

0:00 / 3:19 1x 1.2x 1.5x

Anas Haqqani(‫)انس حقاني‬

Twitter has two important advantages over other social

6:25 PM · Jul 10, 2023

2.4K Reply Copy link

Read 844 replies

In your repressive regime, my brother who is a journalist,

Anas Haqqani(‫@ )انس حقاني‬AnasHaqqani313

11:17 PM · Jul 10, 2023

107 Reply Copy link

“Hypocrisy at its finest.”

Anas Haqqani(‫ · )انس حقاني‬Jul 10, 2023

Lol, lauding freedom of speech as a sweet veneer to mask

421 Reply Copy link

Death toll rises to 66 in India’s monsoon mayhem

iPhone assembler pulls the plug on $19.4bn India deal

DAWN NEWS ENGLISH YouTube 960K

Seized luxury car to be handed over to Bulgarian embassy

Cartoon: 12 July, 2023

Cartoon: 11 July, 2023

KP govt asks for army help to end Kurram conflict

Pakistan receives $2 billion from Saudi Arabia: Ishaq Dar

Is the Supreme Judicial Council a tool of accountability or a dictatorial remnant?

Cracks papered over, but Fazl-Sharif gulf not fully bridged

Emerging climate risks & IMF

Updated 13 Jul, 2023

Stories and guesswork

Updated 12 Jul, 2023

Worsening poll uncertainty

Updated 12 Jul, 2023

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