Afghanistan Peace Campaign
On the third anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the group to halt the “unprecedented destruction of Afghanistan’s media and the brutal repression of journalists.”
The CPJ expressed concern that the Taliban has driven the few remaining media outlets in the country to the brink of collapse.
In a statement released on August 14, the CPJ reported that over the past year, the Taliban has detained 16 Afghan and foreign journalists, shut down four radio and television stations, banned one media outlet, and suspended the licenses of 14 others.
They also noted that at least one detained journalist had been severely beaten.
The CPJ’s Asia Program Coordinator stated, “The gross injustices committed by the Taliban are symbolic of their regime. The brutal crackdown has pushed the few remaining media outlets in Afghanistan to the edge.” She urged global countries to facilitate the resettlement of journalists.
The CPJ also highlighted that the Taliban’s restrictions on women working in media had created a “hostile” environment, forcing many Afghan journalists to flee to neighboring countries.
Earlier, Reporters Without Borders and the Afghanistan Journalists Center also voiced concerns over the state of journalism and media under Taliban rule.
These international bodies have underscored the dire situation facing journalists in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for international support and intervention to safeguard press freedom and the rights of media workers in the country.