BBC pays ‘Taliban propaganda wing' so it can broadcast in Afghanistan
The BBC is paying money to the 'Taliban's propaganda wing' to ensure that it can broadcast in Afghanistan.
Since militants seized Kabul in August 2021, the Islamic fundamentalist regime has censored multiple media companies and forced radio stations off air.
But the corporation remains able to broadcast from the country, in part because of payments to Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA).
The Telegraph understands money from the BBC covers rent to small parts of the RTA sites, which enables the BBC to house its FM equipment. Security for those sites is also covered by the rent.
It comes amid further criticism of the BBC over a Gaza documentary.
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 is continuing to restrict the freedoms of women, minority groups and others.
Last week a British couple were arrested by the Taliban. 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 Feb 1.
A BBC spokesman said: '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 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, instead, designated individuals and entities within Afghanistan.
Last week, the BBC removed the 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.
Credit: BBC/Gaza: How To Survive a Warzone
Meanwhile, the BBC's charitable wing, BBC Media Action – which operates independently of the broadcaster – is reportedly contributing to the regime by paying income tax on staff salaries and operating costs such as vehicle registration and licensing.
The Telegraph understands this is not a breach of sanctions and such costs are required by any organisation operating in Afghanistan.
In the 2023-24 tax year, US taxpayer-funded agency USAid gave £2.6 million to the charitable organisation, which trains journalists and helps improve communications in some of the world's poorest countries.
It meant the overseas aid agency was BBC Media Action's largest donor.
Yet in February, Donald Trump, the president, began shutting down the USAid, after saying it 'was run by a bunch of radical lunatics'.
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.
'We are also proud of our work with local radio stations to support some of the last remaining women journalists working in radio in the country.'
They added: 'To be clear, RTA receives no training, equipment or funding from BBC Media Action.
'BBC Media Action operates in full compliance with applicable sanctions.'
There is no suggestion that the BBC or BBC Media Action are breaking sanctions.
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