RASC News Agency: The National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of press freedom, marking National Journalists’ Day with a call for the revival and expansion of independent media in the country. In a statement released on Monday, March 17, the High Council of Resistance voiced optimism that Afghanistan would once again become a flourishing hub for free and independent journalism despite the current climate of repression. The council praised journalists as the vanguards of free speech, emphasizing that, even under immense pressure and hostile conditions, they continue to report courageously and truthfully, playing a critical role in public awareness and enlightenment.
While acknowledging the dire challenges faced by journalists, the council reaffirmed its belief that the situation would inevitably change, emphasizing that journalists remain the true voice of the people. The statement further underscored the systematic suppression of press freedom under Taliban rule, pointing out that the fall of the previous government and the subsequent takeover by the Taliban have led to:
Widespread censorship
Draconian restrictions on media operations
Escalating security threats against journalists
Severe economic hardships
A surge in forced migration of media professionals
Despite these adversities, the High Council of Resistance commended dedicated journalists who continue to fulfill their duty of informing and educating the Afghanistani people, even at great personal risk. The council also condemned the Taliban’s intensifying restrictions on media outlets and their escalating crackdown on journalists, describing it as a deliberate assault on press freedom and the right to information.
Afghanistan officially designated March 17 as National Journalists’ Day in 2018 under the previous government. While the occasion was once celebrated annually, the Taliban’s rise to power has led to the systematic dismantling of press freedoms, with many journalists subjected to imprisonment, torture, and persecution a stark contrast to the relative media openness of the past.
