RASC News Agency: The Afghanistan Journalists Protection Organization (AJPO) has voiced deep concern over recent warnings issued by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, condemning the regime’s aggressive crackdown on online expression. The organization characterized the Taliban’s escalating surveillance and prosecution of digital activity particularly targeting journalists, media outlets, and ordinary citizens on social media as a profound and intensifying threat to press freedom and democratic discourse in the country.
In a strongly worded statement released this week, AJPO declared:
“The Taliban’s ever-tightening restrictions on media and digital platforms not only stifle what little remains of public discourse in Afghanistan but constitute a flagrant violation of human rights and the core principles of media independence. These repressive measures are aimed at silencing dissent and eliminating access to truth in an already fragile society.” The warning follows an official announcement from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue, in which the group threatened legal action against what it termed “unlawful use” of social media. The vague and ominous language used in the declaration has alarmed journalists and civil society actors, who fear that it is intended to justify arbitrary arrests, surveillance, and intimidation of those expressing views critical of the regime.
AJPO responded by urging international human rights organizations, global press freedom advocates, and foreign governments to take immediate and decisive action in response to these developments. “We call on the international community to stand resolutely with Afghanistani journalists and civil society voices, and to denounce the Taliban’s systematic efforts to criminalize digital expression,” the organization stated. The watchdog also issued a direct appeal to Afghanistani journalists, independent media institutions, and online activists, advising them to strengthen their digital safety protocols in light of the Taliban’s mounting hostility toward free expression. “In this climate of fear and repression, we urge all media professionals to adopt enhanced digital security measures and ensure the safe continuity of their work,” AJPO warned.
The organization concluded its statement with a call for global solidarity:
“Now more than ever, Afghanistan’s journalists need the unwavering support of the international community. We urge legal and humanitarian organizations to extend urgent assistance, offer protective mechanisms, and help safeguard the fundamental right to freedom of expression, which is under existential threat.” Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban has methodically dismantled Afghanistan’s independent media landscape. Over 80 percent of media outlets have ceased operations or been forced into silence under duress. Female journalists have been almost entirely erased from the public sphere, and dozens of media professionals have faced arbitrary arrest, physical violence, or enforced disappearance.
The Taliban’s latest assault on digital freedom appears to be part of a broader strategy aimed at eliminating dissenting voices and controlling the narrative within and beyond Afghanistan’s borders. For many, social media had remained one of the final platforms for free expression and grassroots reporting. With this new wave of repression, even those fragile digital spaces are now under siege. The AJPO’s plea comes amid a deepening humanitarian crisis and growing international disillusionment over the Taliban’s unfulfilled promises of moderation. Critics warn that continued inaction will only embolden the regime and accelerate the erasure of hard-won rights in Afghanistan.
