RASC News Agency: Most of Afghanistan’s media have openly opposed the Taliban and vigorously disseminate negative news about this group to the public. This is because there are no positive news stories about the Taliban for the people of Afghanistan, except for killing, violence, brutality, and torture. Mass media have the duty to reflect all the impartiality and factual values of Afghanistan society and disseminate them to the people of Afghanistan.
Jamshid Timuri, a journalist and intellectual from western Afghanistan, speaking to RASC on Friday, May 10th, said that after the Taliban’s domination in Afghanistan, the media, especially Afghanistani journalists, have suffered the most significant blow. He added that with the arrival of the Taliban in Afghanistan, they terminated all medium and long-term media projects and seized the working space of journalists and intellectuals from most journalists and literati.
He continued that a journalist’s position in society is like an eye that the Taliban have blinded with their traditional thoughts and ideas. He added that the chaotic fate that has befallen most journalists and media personnel inside and outside Afghanistan is due to developments for which the Taliban are considered the main culprits. Mr. Timuri states that if today most of Afghanistan’s media and journalists are “worried” about the Taliban, it is a request for a situation where the rights of journalists have been taken away from them, and freedom of expression is being stifled.
Therefore, Jamila Ghafari told RASC that many boys and girls were striving to start their university studies after completing their school education and study journalism. She said, however, this enthusiasm of the youth of Herat province in western Afghanistan has turned into disappointment and despair, and all future opportunities have been taken away from them. She added that no other boy or girl has the motivation to start studying journalism.
She further added that with their pressures, the Taliban have deprived all classes of attention, which has undermined the future of journalists, intellectuals, humiliation and insult, detention, brutality, and recently, they have questioned the position of Afghanistan’s media and journalists. She also added that freedom of expression and the media from the Taliban’s perspective are myths and empty words that have no value or significance among the members of this group.
Ms. Ghafari stated that society can only move towards progress and tranquility when the rulers and players of countries are in harmony and unity with the media and journalists, something the Taliban are profoundly distant and unfamiliar with. Still, Fareed Ahmadi, a media personality in western Afghanistan, confirms that the current environment of the media and the unemployment of many journalists in Afghanistan are due to the Taliban’s negative view of this issue, which has dealt heavy blows to journalists and intellectuals.
He said, if some of the media have currently ceased their activities, it is due to their unfair policy towards the Taliban. It should be noted that the Taliban have supported some media to attract public attention by reflecting their symbolic activities and hiding facts and truths.
