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April 21, 2025 – Afghanistan –
In recent months, Afghan journalists have encountered escalating repression under Taliban rule, coinciding with Pakistan’s mass deportation of Afghan refugees, including media professionals and rights activists.
Taliban’s Crackdown on Press Freedom
The Taliban’s suppression of independent journalism has intensified, with recent detentions highlighting the regime’s intolerance for dissent. On May 5, journalist Sulaiman Rahil was arrested in Ghazni Province by Taliban intelligence agents, reportedly due to critical Facebook posts. Similarly, in April, freelance journalist Sayed Rashid Kashifi was detained in Kabul over alleged ties to exiled media outlets. In Takhar Province, three journalists—Nasratullah Ebrahimi, Moneer Hadaf, and Asadullah Timor—were arrested, prompting calls for their immediate release. These incidents are part of a broader pattern; Amnesty International reports that since August 2021, at least 336 journalists and media workers have been detained, tortured, or threatened by the Taliban.
Pakistan’s Mass Deportation of Afghan Refugees
Concurrently, Pakistan has accelerated the deportation of Afghan refugees. Since April 1, over 80,000 Afghans have been expelled under the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” with the total number of deportations since September 2023 reaching approximately 910,000. The United Nations estimates that about 3.5 million Afghans reside in Pakistan, many of whom are undocumented. The deportations have raised humanitarian concerns, especially as many returnees face dire conditions in Afghanistan.
Impact on Journalists and Human Rights Activists
The intersection of Taliban repression and Pakistan’s deportation campaign has placed Afghan journalists and human rights activists in a precarious position. Many who fled Taliban threats now face forced returns to a country where their safety is compromised. Human rights organizations, including the United Nations, have called for the protection of Afghan media workers and the cessation of forced deportations, emphasizing the need to uphold press freedom and human rights.
The current situation underscores the urgent need for international intervention to protect Afghan journalists and ensure their right to free expression and safety.
Reference –
https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-journalist-detained/32787205.html
