KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) says it recorded at least 150 violations of press freedom and incidents of violence against journalists in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan since May 2025, including 127 threats and 20 arrests of media workers.
In a statement marking World Press Freedom Day, the Afghan media watchdog, which operates in exile, said the figures point to intensified repression and censorship and reflect a further deterioration of press freedom conditions in the country.
Nearly all incidents were carried out by the Taliban, the group said, aside from the deaths of two national radio and television employees and the injury of another in airstrikes attributed to Pakistan.
It added that while the overall number of violations was lower than in the previous year, the operating environment for journalists had become more restrictive, with tighter controls on reporting, content production, and access to information.
The AFJC said a ban on broadcasting images of living beings has expanded to 25 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. It stated that the measure has led to the shutdown of at least eight local television stations and forced others to significantly adjust their programming.
At least 11 media outlets or organizations were temporarily or permanently shut down for failing to comply with Taliban directives, while operating licenses of at least 10 media support groups were revoked during the period, the watchdog reported.
Access to information has become increasingly restricted, with nearly half of government ministries and departments banning video reporting or video interviews. Media outlets are also under pressure to limit content production and are instructed not to interview individuals not approved by the Taliban authorities.
The report also pointed to growing restrictions on women journalists, including bans on broadcasting women’s voices in several provinces. It said cases of censoring women journalists during official press briefings have also been recorded.
Of the 20 journalists and media workers arrested in the past year, four remain in prison, the AFJC said.
The watchdog warned that alongside restrictions on independent media, formal and informal structures have been established to promote one-sided narratives, reinforcing what it described as a policy of “monopoly of voice.”
The economic situation for independent media, particularly in the provinces, remains dire, the group added. Reduced funding, combined with mounting restrictions have pushed many outlets toward closure, while the migration of journalists from the country continues.
Since the Taliban takeover, authorities have issued more than 20 directives regulating media activity, content approval, and access to information. These measures have contributed to the near-collapse of what was once a vibrant media sector, with dozens of outlets shut down or silenced and hundreds of journalists forced into exile or hiding.
Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index, placing it among the worst globally.
The AFJC called on the Taliban to revise its restrictive policies, release detained journalists, and ensure safe working conditions for media. It also urged the international community to increase political, financial, and technical support for Afghan media and journalists.
