Predators of Press Freedom: Afghanistan/Pakistan - Mullah Mohammad Omar

Mullah Mohammad Omar, Taliban chief, Afghanistan, Taliban chief, Pakistan

Mullah Omar, who likes to call himself "Commander of the Believers" and "Servant of Islam," has led the Afghan Taliban since 1994. Nowadays he also has a lot of support in Pakistan, where he heads the Taliban ruling council, the Rahbari Shura, which consists of himself and 10 other Talebs. Cloaking himself in mystery and refusing to be photographed or filmed, Mullah Omar is nonetheless aware of the importance of the media war. His spokesmen try to be quoted in the media as much as possible and his thugs threaten local reporters who do not relay his propaganda.

The Taliban, who control many areas of Afghanistan, often kidnap journalists for ransom or for prisoner swaps. Two French journalists working for France 3, Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier, have been Taliban hostages since 29 December 2009.The threats to journalists reinforce the Taliban's sway over the population and create news black holes in the south and east of Afghanistan and in western Pakistan.

When he ruled the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, Mullah Omar successively banned music, television, the Internet and all form of criticism. The only radio broadcaster just carried religious programmes. The undisputed chief of the "students of theology," he swore by the strict application of the Sharia alone. Nowadays he supports the terror policies of his allies in the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP), which have resulted in countless deaths. Suicide bombing is the method most commonly used to spread terror.

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