RASC News Agency: The Federation of Afghanistani Journalistic and Media Institutions has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s recent military strike targeting the headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). In a formal statement, the federation described the attack as a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and a direct assault on the universal principles of press freedom and the right to information. The statement underscored that no media institution state-owned or independent should ever be treated as a legitimate military target, regardless of the nature of ongoing armed conflict. “Such actions constitute a blatant breach of international legal norms and strike at the core of the public’s fundamental right to access free and impartial information,” the federation wrote.
The federation emphasized that journalists and media institutions must not be weaponized or sacrificed in the pursuit of political or military agendas. It warned that targeting media facilities during times of conflict not only endangers lives but also undermines the essential function of the press in holding power to account and informing the public. “In any conflict or crisis situation, journalists and media personnel are entitled to full protection under international law. Warring parties must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the safety of journalists and the neutrality of the press,” the statement added. The federation further called on the government of Israel and all other states engaged in armed conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, to ensure the safety of journalists, and to prevent any further targeting of media entities.
This condemnation comes amid growing global alarm over the rising frequency of attacks on press institutions in conflict zones. Over the past decade, assaults on journalists, newsrooms, and broadcast stations have become distressingly common, prompting leading international watchdogs to demand greater accountability and protections. While Afghanistani media organizations have shown principled solidarity with international journalistic standards, the Taliban regime has remained conspicuously silent on such violations, including recent regional escalations and attacks on media. This absence of moral and diplomatic engagement only deepens concerns about the Taliban’s hostility toward press freedom and its refusal to align with international human rights frameworks.
Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan’s once-vibrant media sector has faced unprecedented censorship, closures, and intimidation, with women journalists virtually erased from the public sphere. The federation’s statement thus stands in stark contrast to the regime’s record, offering a rare and courageous voice from within a country where press freedom is increasingly under siege.
