Pakistani Taliban Ulema (scholars) have issued a fatwa (religious edict) against media outlets for what they described as their propaganda against mujahiddin.
"Some media groups and journalists have continuously been engaged in distorting facts and propagating against Mujahiddin at the behest of anti-Islam forces," the Ulema Mujahiddin Shura of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said in a decree seen by Anadolu Agency.
"Therefore, they are no more considered journalists but agents of these forces."
Citing different verses from the noble Quran and hadith (sayings of the Prophet), the Ulema warned that journalists who don't desist from acting against Mujahiddin may be killed.
"As there is no Islamic government in Pakistan, and these people (journalists) are protected by the security forces, therefore Mujahiddin should wage a war against them, and kill them wherever they are found," the fatwa says.
The fatwa calls on the Taliban to categorize journalists and media groups that stand alongside anti-Islam forces, and take action against them.
The Ulema enumerated what they say charges against media groups and journalists.
"They dub Mujahiddin as terrorists and anti-peace elements, whereas they try to hide the Jews, crusaders (Christians) and their allies who are involved in killing innocent Muslims in various parts of the world by portraying them as militia, marines and other names to confuse Muslims," the fatwa says.
They also cited what they call a "negative role" of the media in Pakistan.
"They have portrayed dancers and singers as hero of Swat. We have personally watched a video in which a man thanks the government for bringing so-called peace in Swat as now he can openly sell movies. Was that the objective of peace?" the edict says.
"Their TV channels are spreading obscenity in the society. They show women without veil (on TV). And when someone objects to that, they label him as extremist and fundamentalist."
The Ulema also criticized the media for their coverage of the case of Ramsha Maish, a Pakistani child arrested on charges of desecrating the Quran last year, but was later released by the court and flown to Canada.
"The media depicted the religious scholar who moved to register a case against Ramsha Masih as a villain despite the fact he had adopted a legal way," they said.
