Taliban Crush Media Freedom in Afghanistan as Journalists Face Torture and Censorship

Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the country’s media landscape has been decimated. Independent outlets have been subjected to surveillance, censorship, and punishment of journalists — including detention, torture, and threats — for any perceived criticism.

As repression of the press intensifies, the need for independent journalism in Afghanistan has never been greater. Many reporters still inside the country work under harsh conditions, while those in exile face growing challenges abroad.

A Rapidly Vanishing Media Environment

Before August 2021, Afghanistan had hundreds of private and independent media outlets — television, radio, and online platforms — that played an active role in public life. Journalists were able to publish diverse content, including criticism of authorities.

After taking power, the Taliban imposed sweeping restrictions on press freedom. Within months, nearly half of Afghan news outlets stopped operating. The number of male journalists dropped from about 4,000 to 2,000 by 2022, while female journalists declined from roughly 1,400 before 2021 to 600 in 2024.

The regime now tightly controls all information. The General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) and the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) monitor media offices, raid homes, confiscate phones, and censor reports. Content deemed “contrary to Islam,” “insulting national figures,” or “undermining morale” is banned.

Journalists are routinely warned: “Make sure you don’t harm us with your reports. If you do, you’ll be in trouble.”

Self-Censorship, Fear, and Forced Conformity

Most Afghan journalists now limit their coverage to official events such as government ceremonies and diplomatic visits. Failing to report on official activities can result in reprimands, threats, or detention. A Kabul reporter said he was detained twice for skipping a state event.

The Taliban’s rules are applied inconsistently across the country. Each province interprets media restrictions differently. In some areas, reporters are banned from interviewing women, filming people, or covering stories beyond their province. “The Taliban are not unified; each province has its own rules,” one journalist said.

Women Journalists Under Attack

Women in media have been among the hardest hit. Outside major cities like Kabul and Herat, many provinces have no female journalists at all. Those still working face severe limitations: they must travel with a male guardian, cannot work from offices, and are often prohibited from speaking with officials or interviewing people.

A law passed in August 2024 requires that all media content comply with Sharia and bans images of living beings. Women’s voices are often treated as private and may not be broadcast. In several provinces, radio stations have stopped airing women’s voices entirely.

Arbitrary Detention, Torture, and Disappearances

Journalists have been arrested for “spying,” “contacting opposition groups,” or “working with exiled media.” One journalist recalled being told by Taliban officials, “We can kill you, and no one can ask us why.”

Torture is common during detention — beatings, suffocation, and repeated interrogations. Many released journalists suffer long-term trauma. Members of ethnic minorities, particularly the Hazara, report even harsher treatment and open discrimination.

Some journalists face trials without defense lawyers. Others disappear altogether, their families unaware of their whereabouts for days or weeks. These enforced disappearances have become a key tool of Taliban control.

Media in Exile: A Fragile Lifeline

Over 1,000 Afghan journalists fled the country after the Taliban takeover. Some resettled in the United States, Canada, or Europe, but many ended up in Türkiye or Pakistan without legal protection or work permits.

Exiled journalists live in fear of deportation and surveillance. In Türkiye, Afghan consular offices now have Taliban-linked staff, leading many to believe they are being monitored. In Pakistan, journalists are at risk of forced return after visa renewals were halted.

In the United States, many journalists who were evacuated after 2021 were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS). But with TPS expiring in mid-2025, many now face legal uncertainty and potential deportation to Afghanistan.

Recommendations

To the Taliban:

• End arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment of journalists, and release all those held for peaceful reporting.
• Lift discriminatory restrictions on women journalists and allow them to work on an equal basis with men.
• End censorship and arbitrary travel bans on journalists.
• Provide open access to official information and allow media, including women, to attend official events.
• Investigate threats and assaults against journalists transparently and hold offenders accountable.

To Countries Hosting Afghan Refugees:

• Stop the forced return of Afghans to Afghanistan and uphold the principle of non-refoulement.
• Investigate allegations of mistreatment of Afghan refugees in detention and prosecute those responsible.
• Expand resettlement and expedite emergency protection for at-risk Afghan journalists.
• Provide financial, mental health, and training support for Afghan media in exile, particularly women.

To the Turkish Government:

• Allow Afghan journalists and refugees to apply for international protection or humanitarian residency permits.

• Enable exiled Afghan journalists in Türkiye to obtain work permits and continue their profession safely.

   

Afghanistan’s once-vibrant media sector has been dismantled under Taliban rule. Through surveillance, censorship, and violence, the Taliban have silenced nearly every independent voice. Journalists face a grim choice: self-censor and survive, report truthfully and risk imprisonment or death, or flee the country entirely.

The international community, especially nations hosting Afghan journalists, must act to protect what remains of Afghanistan’s free press. Without global attention and concrete support, Afghanistan’s citizens will be left without one of their last remaining sources of truth and accountability.

Source: Human Rights Watch