Press freedom in Afghanistan has worsened drastically since the Taliban assumed control, with journalists encountering heightened threats, censorship, and violence.
A recent report by the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) revealed a 24% surge in violations against media professionals under Taliban rule.
Read more: CPNE Expresses Concern Over Assaults on Journalists, Press Freedom
Since March 2024, a total of 181 violations have been documented, comprising 131 instances of threats and 50 arrests. Additionally, more than 22 cases involved media outlets being suspended or shut down.
Currently, 10 journalists remain imprisoned, with four receiving sentences ranging from two to three years. In 2023, AFJC recorded 139 media rights violations, including 80 threats and 59 arrests.
Nearly four years after the Taliban’s return to power, media freedom has been severely restricted, with raids on news offices, detentions, and enforced shutdowns of independent outlets.
Amnesty International previously called on the Taliban to halt their crackdown on free expression and stop persecuting journalists. However, the situation has continued to deteriorate, with increasing attacks on media workers.
The Taliban’s oppressive measures have led to a severe decline in Afghan journalism, silencing dissenting voices and driving independent media toward extinction.
