The Afghanistan Journalists Center said that media freedom and journalists’ rights in Afghanistan are “severely constrained and repressive,” citing widespread censorship and intimidation under Taliban rule.
In its annual report, the centre said it documented at least 205 cases of violence against journalists and violations of media freedom over the past year. The report, published on Saturday, points to tight controls and systematic repression of media outlets and reporters.
According to the findings, at least two journalists were killed during the year in attacks attributed to Pakistan, while three others were wounded. The report also recorded more than 160 cases of threats against journalists and 34 instances of detention.
Despite these figures, a deputy at the Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture, one of the bodies overseeing censorship and media regulation, claimed in an interview with a Bangladeshi newspaper that the Taliban has no issues with the media and that no journalists are being held. This assertion contrasts with reports indicating that at least five Afghan journalists remain imprisoned.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center said incidents involving violations of media freedom and journalists’ rights rose by 13 percent compared with the previous year, attributing the increase to the Taliban’s increasingly restrictive policies.
The report cited the broadcast of forced confessions by detained journalists, bans on women journalists attending press conferences, and the censorship of women’s voices as evidence of a broader policy of intimidation, repression and severe gender discrimination.
It also highlighted the expansion of bans on publishing images of living beings in 23 provinces, a measure that has led to the closure of at least 20 television stations. The centre warned that the few remaining independent outlets face a serious risk of shutdown.
Expressing deep concern for the fundamental rights of journalists and media organisations, the watchdog said the future of media freedom and freedom of expression in Afghanistan faces grave and growing threats.
