Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Afghanistan has become the world’s leading source of exiled journalists, with hundreds forced to flee threats, arrests and growing restrictions on independent media, according to a new report by Reporters Without Borders.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) stated on Fiday, June 19 that at least 677 Afghan journalists have been forced to leave the country between 2021 and 2025 due to threats, detention, persecution and fears for their safety, making Afghanistan the largest source of exiled journalists worldwide.
According to the report, Afghan journalists account for nearly half of the 1,468 journalists whom RSF has assisted after fleeing their home countries during the past five years. The organization said Afghan journalists are now scattered across 28 countries, describing Afghanistan as a “global epicentre of journalist exile.”
RSF said no other country has experienced such a large-scale exodus of media professionals in recent years. By comparison, the organization supported 160 Russian journalists and 101 Myanmar journalists during the same period.
The report links the mass departure of journalists to the collapse of independent media following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Since then, hundreds of media outlets have reportedly closed, thousands of journalists have lost their jobs and restrictions on press freedom have steadily increased.
The largest wave of departures occurred in 2022, when 183 journalists left Afghanistan. However, the trend has continued, with at least 82 additional journalists forced into exile in 2025 alone. RSF said journalists inside the country continue to face arrests, interrogations, censorship and increasing restrictions on reporting.
The report notes that bans on publishing images of living beings in several provinces have further constrained media operations, particularly affecting television broadcasters and visual journalists. Women journalists have been among the hardest hit, facing additional barriers to employment, education and participation in public life.
RSF warned that exile has not necessarily brought safety. Many Afghan journalists abroad continue to face legal uncertainty, financial hardship and the threat of deportation. The organization highlighted Pakistan as a particular concern, noting that since the launch of deportation campaigns against Afghan migrants in 2023, at least 50 Afghan journalists have reportedly been forcibly returned to Afghanistan.
The findings come amid broader concerns over shrinking civic space and restrictions on freedom of expression in Afghanistan. International human rights organizations and media advocacy groups have repeatedly warned that growing limitations on independent journalism are reducing public access to information and weakening accountability mechanisms.
The report also comes as thousands of Afghans, including journalists, activists and former government employees, continue to face uncertainty in neighboring countries. Pakistan and Iran have accelerated deportation and repatriation campaigns in recent years, while many Afghan refugees remain stranded awaiting resettlement opportunities in third countries.
RSF called on governments to expand emergency visa programs, provide long-term residency pathways and halt the forced return of journalists to countries where they may face persecution. The organization warned that without stronger international support, many exiled Afghan journalists could face a new cycle of insecurity, displacement and professional exclusion.