Afghan govt workers face sack over smartphone ban

Government workers across Afghanistan have begun turning off their smartphones following an order attributed to Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, effective June 17, 2026. A letter announcing the ban circulated on social media under the Supreme Court's emblem, though the court has not commented. The directive threatens dismissal and jail for employees who violate the rule, marking a significant enforcement of social restrictions in the public sector.