Press freedom in Afghanistan has sharply declined since the Taliban regained power, with journalists facing increasing threats, censorship, and violence, according to a recent report by the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC).
The report highlights a 24% rise in abuses against media and journalists under Taliban control, underscoring the deteriorating environment for independent reporting.
Since March 2024, the AFJC documented 181 violations of journalists’ rights, including threats, arrests, and the forced suspension or closure of media organizations. More than 22 of these incidents involved direct threats to shut down media outlets. This marks a significant escalation from 2023, when the center recorded 139 cases of media rights violations.
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Nearly four years after the Taliban seized power, media freedom has been severely curtailed. Journalists have faced raids on their offices, arbitrary arrests, and the shuttering of several media institutions. Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the Taliban to cease its crackdown on freedom of expression and to protect journalists from harassment and violence.
The Taliban’s restrictions on the press have drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations, which argue that the suppression of independent media undermines transparency and accountability in the country.
