Media Freedom in Afghanistan faces severe setbacks as repression of Journalists intensified in past year

In the past year, media freedom in Afghanistan has significantly worsened, with increased repression and challenges faced by journalists.

The media landscape and journalists’ status in Afghanistan have undergone significant changes in the past three years. Despite media freedom being a major achievement of the past two decades, many journalists still face challenges such as lack of access to information and economic struggles within the media industry.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center recently released a report on media freedom and journalists’ rights in 2024, highlighting a sharp 24% increase in media repression compared to the previous year. This indicates a growing clampdown on media freedoms.

According to the report, there were 172 cases of media rights violations over the past year. This included the shutdown of 22 media outlets due to new restrictions and the arrest of more than 50 journalists.

The report notes a division in the approach of the Taliban-led government towards media, with the Ministry of Information and Culture sidelined and the implementation of a new law on ” Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” giving authorities extensive powers to control media activities.

A significant measure under the new law is the prohibition of live broadcasts, including interviews with local officials. This restriction, which initially started in Kandahar, was later extended to other provinces like Takhar, Badghis, Helmand, and Nangarhar by the end of the year.

In 2024, at least 17 new directives were issued to media outlets, a significant increase from just four in 2023. Journalists who defied these orders faced threats, imprisonment, or were banned from practicing journalism temporarily or permanently.

New restrictions included banning phone calls between female journalists and media outlets in some provinces, prohibiting live political programs, and banning critical or challenging content related to government policies.

Before the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the government had issued at least 15 media directives, including prohibitions on women in media, coverage of protests, and broadcasting international channels.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center recorded 172 violations of journalists’ rights over the past year, including 122 threats and 50 arrests, with at least five journalists sentenced to prison for periods ranging from two to five years.

Despite these challenges, the center expressed relief that no targeted attacks against media workers were reported in 2024, a contrast to the 168 violations recorded in the previous year, which included the killing of one journalist and the injury of 19 others.

The situation for female journalists has been especially difficult in Afghanistan over the past two years. With increasing discrimination and limited access to information, female reporters face higher hurdles compared to their male counterparts. These challenges have intensified after the reduction of foreign aid and the worsening economic situation within the media industry.

International bodies, such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), have called for increased protection of journalists’ rights globally, especially in conflict zones like Afghanistan. With the media sector facing severe repression, it is crucial to create legal frameworks and support systems that allow for the free flow of information and the protection of journalists.

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