KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Amnesty International condemned the Taliban’s decision to revoke the operating licenses of media support organizations, calling on the group to reverse the move and allow the organizations to work freely and without threats.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture announced on Monday that it would renew licenses for only three such organizations, accusing the others of “unprofessionalism” and of “damaging the credibility of Afghan media internationally.”
According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), the decision affected at least 10 organizations that were licensed under the former government and had been providing training and assistance to journalists and media workers across the country.
In a statement posted on X, Amnesty International described the revocation as part of the Taliban’s “relentless campaign” to suppress media freedom. It warned that the move would eliminate remaining avenues of professional support and safety for independent journalists operating in a “severely repressive environment.”
“The Taliban de facto authorities must immediately reverse their decision and ensure these organizations can freely carry out their legitimate work without threats,” Amnesty said.
Press freedom in Afghanistan has declined sharply since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, with authorities issuing more than 20 directives limiting media operations and access to information.
Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2025 World Press Freedom Index, placing it just above Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Eritrea.
The crackdown has contributed to the closure of more than half of the country’s media outlets, including some state-run television stations. Dozens of journalists have faced arrest, torture, or killing, while many who fled abroad remain at risk of detention or deportation amid tightening refugee policies in neighboring countries.
