The Afghanistan Journalists Center has documented 181 incidents of press freedom violations, which included the closure of 18 media outlets and the arrest of 50 journalists.
This statement was originally published on afjc.media on 26 December 2024.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has published its 2024 report detailing the state of media freedom and the treatment of journalists in Afghanistan. The findings reveal a marked escalation in the repression of media freedoms, with violations increasing by approximately eight percent compared to the previous year. In total, the AFJC documented 181 incidents of violations against media and journalist rights, which included the closure of 18 media outlets and the arrest of 50 journalists.
The report, released today, emphasizes that the suppression of media freedom has intensified in 2024. It highlights the ambiguity surrounding the Taliban’s media policy, as well as growing divisions within the Taliban government regarding media engagement. While representatives from the de facto government and officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture have publicly endorsed media freedom and the implementation of the Media Law established under the previous republic, they have also indicated that a draft amendment to this law is nearing completion, pending minor revisions.
Notably, the report underscores significant inconsistencies in the enforcement of the media law. The Ministry of Information and Culture, which is supposed to oversee media affairs, has been sidelined, with a hardline faction of the Taliban increasingly exerting control through the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) and the Ministry of Vice and Virtue. This faction has utilized the recently enacted Vice and Virtue Law to expand the powers of the morality police, enabling them to dictate standards for the public, including media personnel. Despite claims that the Ministry of Information and Culture has revitalized the Commission for Investigating Media Complaints to safeguard journalists, the reality reflects a persistent crackdown.
The report further indicates that the introduction of the new Vice and Virtue Law has complicated the media landscape, leading to at least seven new media directives issued in 2024, up from four the previous year. These directives impose restrictions on local media, including bans on filming and videotaping in Kandahar, Takhar, Baghis, Helmand and Nangarhar province, limitations on women contacting media outlets in Khost, prohibitions against live broadcasts of political programs, and mandates for media to adopt specific terminology when reporting on Taliban officials.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, the de facto authorities have issued at least 15 directives governing media operations through the end of 2023. These directives encompass a broad array of restrictions, including prohibiting women from appearing on state-owned media platforms such as national radio and television, banning coverage of demonstrations, and outlawing music.
Additionally, the authorities have imposed stipulations on how women should dress and present themselves in media, barred women from participating in plays and television entertainment programs, and prohibited interviews with opponents of the regime. International television broadcasts via Afghan media have also been banned, along with the release of films and series. Criticism of Taliban officials is forbidden, as is the representation of women’s voices in media in Helmand province. Furthermore, cooperation with “exiled” media is not permitted.
Notably, apart from a directive that forbids the publication of images of living beings, which is articulated in the new Vice and Virtue Law, the rest of these instructions do not specify the penalties for journalists and media outlets that refuse to comply.
The AFJC’s Press Freedom Tracker documented 181 incidents of media and journalist rights violations in 2024, including 131 threats and 50 arrests. At least five journalists received prison sentences ranging from two to five years. Notably, there were no reported targeted attacks or injuries to media workers this year, marking a significant improvement over 2023, which witnessed a targeted attack that resulted in the death of one journalist and injuries to at least 19 others.
For the full report, please click here.
