In their annual report, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) names Afghanistan among the most dangerous countries for journalists, behind Iraq and Syria.
The report, published on 30 December 2022, states that “a staggering total of 1,668 journalists have been killed worldwide in connection with their work in the last two decades (2003-2022), according to RSF’s tallies based above all on its annual round-ups. This gives an average of more than 80 journalists killed every year. The total killed since 2000 is 1,787.”
With 80 deaths, Afghanistan ranks sixth, behind Iraq, Syria, Mexico, the Philippines and Pakistan, each with 299, 279, 125, 107 and 93 deaths respectively, constituting 80% of total deaths since 2003.
Since taking over power, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on journalists, resulting in scores of private media outlets closing down and many journalists fleeing the country. Journalists working in Afghanistan are routinely harassed, detained and tortured. On 8 September 2021, two Etilaat Roz/ KabulNow journalists, Nemat Naqdi and Taqi Daryabi, were detained, beaten and tortured by the group for covering a women’s protest in Kabul.
