Stefanie Glinski, a journalist with Foreign Policy, has detailed her terrible experience of constant harassment by the Taliban for working as a journalist in Afghanistan. She added that she can't go back and work in Afghanistan as journalists cannot operate freely there.
"The Taliban contacted me regarding my work. I was told that “relevant [Taliban] departments have a few concerns” and that they want “details". I was also accused of making allegations when I had clearly stated that it's others making these allegations; I was simply reporting," she narrated her experience.
She added that she was bombarded with questions asking her to reveal her sources and asking them to put their lives in danger via WhatsApp by the Taliban officials.
She said that the Taliban has informed her that from now on “the government [Taliban] will be holding all sides accountable from now onwards, and anyone found breaking the law or unable to substantiate reports […]will be dealt with according to the law, which includes cancellation of visas and non-entry to Afghanistan.
"I've written critically about the US in Afghanistan, the republic government, and the Taliban. I’ve had supporters of all of the above try to silence me at times, but only the latter is now trying to actively ensure I no longer work in Afghanistan. "Investigations into my reports” are apparently not yet completed, she said.
She also spoke of how journalists have been detained and tortured and even killed for just doing their job.
She said that media in Afghanistan is no longer free-and without this crucial accountability, Taliban will continue to threaten the lives of many Afghans, including journalists.
