Halim Fidai, a former official of the Republic and ex-governor of Paktia, has reacted strongly to recent remarks by Saad Mohseni, head of the MOBY Group and Tolo News, accusing media outlets of prioritizing commercial interests over journalistic responsibilities.
In his statements, he claimed that during the Republic era, the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs sought to begin broadcasting the call to prayer (adhan) on television channels in order to respect the religious sentiments of the public. However, according to him, Tolo News demanded around $20,000 per minute for broadcasting it.
Fidai further stated that the media outlet did not limit this practice to the adhan issue alone, but also applied the same commercial arrangements to religious messages, as well as anti-drug campaigns and efforts aimed at preventing suicide attacks, treating such programs as paid advertisements rather than public service content.
According to him, some media outlets at the time also played a role in intensifying political and social tensions, contributing to the rise of ethnic and regional divisions. Fidai alleges that when government officials sought to restrict certain programs in order to preserve national unity, such actions were labeled as violations of freedom of expression.
He also stated that the same media organizations and their supporters now take a more moderate stance on the current political situation and, contrary to their earlier criticisms, draw parallels between different political systems.
These remarks come amid recent statements by the head of the MOBY Group and his views on the status of women, which have been interpreted by some political figures as an attempt to undermine past values and protect personal interests.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
