State media in the provinces of Takhar, Maidan Wardak and Kandahar have been told they can no longer air or publish images of people or animals, Newsweek reports.

According to the Afghan Independent Journalists Union, independent media have also followed suit, broadcasting only nature videos.

The move follows strict new guidance from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

Afghanistan is alone among Muslim-majority countries in adopting such a strict interpretation of Sharia law.