Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, press freedom has deteriorated dramatically. Journalists in the country now face severe threats, brutal censorship, and violence.
According to a report, Afghanistan had 8,400 media workers, including 1,700 women, before the Taliban’s takeover. Today, only 5,100 media professionals remain, with just 560 women.
Amnesty International has strongly condemned the unlawful arrests of political activist Javed Kohistani and journalist Hikmat Aryan by the Taliban, demanding their immediate release.
The organization emphasized that forced disappearances, unjust detentions, and violence against journalists must end if human rights are to be respected.
The restrictive environment has severely impacted freedom of expression and critical journalism. Taliban authorities have systematically removed women from public life, banning them from educational, social, and political roles.
The recent "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" law, based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law, has further endangered female journalists.
The number of violent incidents against journalists has risen alarmingly. Samiullah, an official from a journalists' association, reported that nearly 450 cases of harassment, arbitrary arrests, and physical violence against journalists have occurred since the Taliban took power.
Afghanistan’s press freedom ranking has plummeted from 122 to 178 globally, as the Taliban’s harsh policies mark a dark chapter in the country’s media history.
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