RASC News Agency: March 17 marks National Journalists’ Day in Afghanistan, an occasion overshadowed by increasing censorship, severe restrictions, and the systematic suppression of press freedom under Taliban rule. Afghanistani journalists observe this day while enduring intensifying threats, bureaucratic obstructions, and a climate of fear that stifles independent reporting. Media rights organizations report that the Taliban consistently obstruct the flow of information, refusing to cooperate with journalists and deliberately withholding or delaying the release of official data. Press freedom advocates further reveal that journalists attempting to contact Taliban-run institutions multiple times or seeking information in person are frequently subjected to intimidation, humiliation, and outright threats by officials.
Since the Taliban’s takeover, a vast majority of Afghanistani journalists have fled the country, while those who remain or have recently entered the profession are grappling with not only professional restrictions but also economic hardship and severe psychological pressure. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), in its latest annual report, has documented a 24% increase in press freedom violations over the past year. The report records 172 cases of Taliban-led media suppression, including the forced closure of 22 media outlets and the arbitrary detention of 50 journalists. On March 16, the AFJC confirmed that the Taliban’s crackdown on media freedoms has intensified over the past 12 months, with a notable surge in violations. The report details 122 instances of journalist intimidation, alongside 22 cases of media shutdowns and 50 unlawful detentions.
Furthermore, the AFJC disclosed that the Taliban has yet to grant 15 shuttered media outlets permission to resume operations. Among the 50 detained journalists, at least 10 remain behind bars. The 2023 AFJC report had previously documented 139 media freedom violations, including 80 threats against journalists and 59 instances of arbitrary arrest.
