KABUL – At least 130 journalists have been killed in Afghanistan over the past two decades, but 90 percent of those cases remain uninvestigated, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) said on Sunday, warning of a deepening culture of impunity.
The statement, issued to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, called on the Taliban authorities to ensure justice for victims and protect journalists’ rights amid a worsening climate for press freedom.
According to the group, there have been 640 documented violations against journalists and media workers in the four years since the Taliban’s return to power. These include five killings and 265 cases of detention, alongside frequent harassment and intimidation.
The watchdog said the Taliban have tightened their control over the media landscape, while also using social media to smear and threaten journalists living in exile.
“The ongoing culture of impunity, coupled with escalating threats, pressures, and restrictions, has detrimental consequences for Afghan society and the country’s development,” the AFJC said. “Justice and accountability are essential to safeguarding the rights of journalists and ensuring a free, independent press.”
Since the takeover, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on independent reporting. Many newsrooms have shut down, hundreds of journalists have fled the country, and those who remain face censorship, surveillance, and arbitrary detention.
International watchdogs have consistently ranked Afghanistan among the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists.
The AFJC urged the Taliban to lift restrictions on media freedom, uphold journalists’ fundamental rights, and deliver justice in cases of violence against the press.
