RASC News Agency: Karen Decker, the U.S. Charge d’Affaires for Afghanistan, has emphasized the critical need to protect journalists and media workers in Afghanistan. In a statement posted to her X (formerly Twitter) account on November 5, Decker highlighted that journalists must be able to continue their work free from fear of threats or retaliation. “Journalists hold officials accountable, and it is a fundamental right of the people to have access to this information,” Decker stated. Ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the U.S. Embassy for Afghanistan had also underscored the threats, violence, and intimidation that journalists in Afghanistan face in their pursuit of truth.
In a statement released on Saturday, the embassy reiterated that a free press is the cornerstone of a just society and stressed the importance of protecting those who risk their lives to expose the truth. The embassy also called for an end to the impunity surrounding crimes against Afghanistani journalists. Since their return to power, the Taliban have detained and imprisoned dozens of journalists, sentencing some to years behind bars. They have simultaneously imposed severe restrictions on media operations, mandating that outlets conform to the Taliban’s policies.
Most recently, the Taliban issued a ban on publishing images of living creatures in the media, announcing their intent to implement this restriction gradually. Additionally, the group has halted the broadcasts of several visual media outlets in various provinces, granting others a two-month deadline to transition from visual to audio-only formats. American officials’ calls to support Afghanistani journalists come at a time when the United States continues to provide the Taliban with a reported $40 million per week in aid.
