KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The UN has called for increased support and protection for Afghanistan’s media sector, warning that Taliban restrictions and the economic crisis are threatening access to information and the survival of independent journalism.
In a statement marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) warned of the sharp decline in the country’s media sector. Revenue has dropped significantly due to the economic crisis, while journalists—especially women—face increasing threats, arrests, and mistreatment.
Roza Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA and the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, emphasized the critical role of journalists and media in maintaining an informed society. “Journalists and media are the foundation of an informed and vibrant society, and their role must be protected,” she said. “But in Afghanistan, we are seeing the steady erosion of free and independent media.”
Meanwhile, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, marked the day by calling on the international community to increase support for Afghan journalists and exiled media.
Mr. Bennett also urged the Taliban to release all journalists, media workers, and filmmakers detained for exercising their human rights.
“On this World Press Freedom Day, let’s remember that a free press is not a threat to power. It is a safeguard against tyranny,” Bennett said. “Without press freedom, there is no truth; without truth, no justice; and without justice, no peace.”
Freedom of the press and expression were among the many achievements of the former Western-backed government in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, those gains have been steadily eroded. The country ranked 175th out of 180 countries on the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, just above Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Eritrea.
In its latest report, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) recorded a 58% rise in press freedom violations between May 2024 and May 2025, documenting at least 215 incidents. These include 175 cases of threats or intimidation, 40 arrests, multiple prison sentences, and at least ten journalists who remain in detention.
AFJC also recorded the temporary closure of at least nine radio and television stations. It said the Taliban introduced seven new restrictive directives over the past 12 months, adding to 16 existing measures that have significantly curtailed press freedom.
The Taliban’s Law on the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, enacted last year, has further compounded the problem. One article bans the broadcast of images of living beings, a restriction now enforced in 17 provinces. As a result, at least 25 TV stations have either shut down or been converted into radio outlets, according to AFJC.
The watchdog warned that Taliban-imposed restrictions not only jeopardize press freedom but also affect broader society. “A free and independent press is a cornerstone of human rights, necessary for transparency, accountability, and societal progress.”
AFJC urged the Taliban to lift all restrictive directives, cease arbitrary arrests, and allow journalists to work without fear of censorship or harassment.
