Immediately following the overthrow of King Zahir Shah in 1973, Afghanistan began to experience a dramatic increase in restrictions on the media under successive ruling powers. However, when the Taliban took control in 1996, the Islamic State of Afghanistan began a period of regulation that may be considered the most restricted in the world. Censorship is the act of a government or powerful group filtering information, news, and media to fit approved topics and categories. Under censorship, people now have to be cautious about what they write, say or do because if deemed "offensive" or "illegal", they can be penalised. (“Definitions of Censorship”) The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, turned out to be no different. Whether it was news, music or the Internet, the Taliban were and are not afraid to dominate. “The Constitution of Afghanistan of 1964 and the Press Law of July 1965 provided for freedom of the press subject to comprehensive articles of proper conduct. According to the Press Law, the press was free (i.e. independent of government ownership) but had to protect the interests of the state and constitutional monarchy, Islam and public order. When the government was overthrown in July 1973, 19 newspapers were closed. Western-style press freedom has been methodically eroded under regimes of dictatorship, communism, mujahideen factions and the Taliban (“Press Reference – Afghanistan”).” When it comes to law enforcement, it is the duty of the ruling power to implement it. But when the ruling power enacts laws that severely go against the freedoms guaranteed by the country's previous edicts, civilians have no choice but to endure the reality of a deprived life. In terms of newspaper circulation,..... . middle of paper ......is a copy of a pre-formatted quote 6 Show | New Edit citation Edit Copy citation Copy Delete citation Delete In-text referenceDo you have a question?Journal Stancati, Margherita, and Eshanullah Amiri. “Violent Censorship on the Rise in Afghanistan.” Online.wsj.com. The Wall Street Journal, September 17, 2013.Web. February 10, 2014.SB10001424127887324139404579012783313887184>.Created: 02/14/14 11:57Note: This is a copy of a pre-formatted quote 1 Show | New Edit citation Edit Copy citation Copy Delete citation Delete In-text referenceDo you have a question?Journal Warasta, Waheed. "Freedom of expression in Afghanistan". Full dominion. TheDominion, January 29, 2008. Web. February 10, 2014. articles/1634> Created: 02/14/14 11:57 AM Note: This is a copy of a pre-formatted quote