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May 04, 2025 – Afghanistan –
On World Press Freedom Day 2025, Afghan journalists highlighted the severe deterioration of media freedoms under Taliban rule, marked by increased censorship, arrests, and gender-based repression.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported a 58% rise in press freedom violations between May 2024 and May 2025, documenting 215 incidents, including 175 threats and 40 journalist arrests. Afghanistan now ranks 175th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting a persistently dire situation for media under Taliban rule.
Journalists face economic hardship, limited access to information, and lack of job security. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) emphasized that restrictions and economic challenges have severely affected public access to vital information.
Women journalists are disproportionately affected. Many have been forced out of the profession, and media outlets like Radio Begum, run entirely by Afghan women, have faced suspensions. The Taliban’s return to power has led to significant job losses for journalists, especially women.
The United Nations has called for the immediate release of detained journalists and urged the Taliban to protect media freedoms. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett noted that since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, journalists in Afghanistan have increasingly faced arrests, intimidation, and violence.
Despite these challenges, Afghan journalists continue to advocate for press freedom and the ratification of media laws to ensure their protection. Their resilience underscores the critical need for international support to uphold the rights of journalists and the free flow of information in Afghanistan.
Reference –
https://www.freiheit.org/stifled-voices-plight-afghan-journalists-world-press-day
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-194169
