RASC News Agency: The Freedom of Expression House has revealed that since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, nearly 300 media outlets, once crucial sources of information, have been forced to shut down. In a statement commemorating World Television Day, the organization underscored the pivotal role television has played in Afghanistan over the past two decades. Television, it noted, served as a vital platform for disseminating information, providing education, offering entertainment, and reflecting societal concerns.
The statement highlighted television’s indispensable value to Afghanistani citizens, acting as a primary source of information while amplifying the voices of various societal groups, particularly women and youth, in the public discourse. However, since the Taliban seized control, over 300 media outlets, which once formed the backbone of news and public awareness, have ceased operations. The Freedom of Expression House accused the Taliban of imposing draconian and oppressive regulations, replacing progressive media laws and severely restricting access to information.
The statement further noted that in the past three years, the Taliban have systematically shut down numerous media organizations and imposed severe restrictions on others, compelling them to operate in alignment with the regime’s propaganda. According to the organization, these measures are calculated efforts to suppress freedom of expression, enforce pervasive censorship, and cultivate an environment hostile to independent media. The Freedom of Expression House also highlighted the extraordinary levels of surveillance and unprecedented restrictions imposed on visual media, particularly television outlets, under the Taliban’s rule.
The plight of female journalists, who had assumed prominent roles in the media sector in recent years, was another focal point. The statement noted that many women have been banned from their professions due to Taliban edicts, with little opportunity to return to their careers. This grim reality not only undermines freedom of expression and independent journalism in Afghanistan but also facilitates the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.
The Freedom of Expression House appealed to the international community, media advocacy organizations, and human rights bodies to urgently address the deteriorating state of media freedom in Afghanistan and to bolster efforts aimed at safeguarding freedom of expression in the country.
