The alarming escalation of violence, intimidation and unlawful detentions targeting journalists in Afghanistan has drawn intense worldwide condemnation, with international media watchdogs warning that press freedom in the country has reached its most perilous point since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Global human rights organisations, media coalitions and hundreds of journalists across continents have urged the Taliban leadership to immediately release detained media workers and end its sweeping campaign of restrictions that has silenced independent journalism across the country.
According to Amu TV, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), one of the world’s leading organisations devoted to press freedom, has called on the Taliban authorities to free all detained journalists ahead of the International Human Rights Day on December 10. CPJ stated that journalism in Afghanistan is now operating under unprecedented repression marked by arbitrary arrests, sustained harassment, and an environment where media workers are forced to self-censor or flee the country. The organisation stressed that the Taliban’s policies directly contradict their public assurances that they would respect fundamental freedoms, including the right to free expression.
The watchdog confirmed that at least two Afghan journalists Mehdi Ansari and Hamid Farhadi are currently held in unlawful detention by Taliban authorities. Their arrests, CPJ says, are emblematic of a broader campaign of intimidation in which journalists are routinely subjected to extended periods of imprisonment, physical abuse, forced confessions and relentless threats aimed at curtailing independent reporting. CPJ warned that such actions not only violate international human rights norms but also extinguish the last remaining spaces for truthful reporting inside Afghanistan.
Since 2021, dozens of Afghan media outlets have been forced to shut down due to Taliban-imposed restrictions, financial pressure, or fear of reprisals. Those that remain operational do so under suffocating limitations, with journalists frequently summoned, interrogated and detained for publishing content deemed “inappropriate,” “un-Islamic,” or “anti-government.” Women journalists, once a visible and growing force in the Afghan media landscape, have been hit particularly hard. Rights groups report that the overwhelming majority of female media workers have been pushed out of newsrooms due to restrictive decrees, threats, or outright bans on their participation.
Human rights organisations say that the Taliban’s systematic dismantling of independent journalism has broader implications for the Afghan population, leaving millions without access to verified information at a time when the country is grappling with economic crisis, humanitarian emergencies, and escalating security threats. Advocates fear that with the free press under siege, abuses remain hidden, accountability mechanisms evaporate, and local communities lose their ability to voice grievances or seek justice.
According to Amu TV, more than 1,500 journalists from over 100 countries have endorsed the global call demanding the immediate release of Afghan journalists and the protection of media freedoms. This extraordinary show of international unity reflects deepening concern that the Taliban’s authoritarian policies are transforming Afghanistan into one of the world’s most dangerous environments for media practitioners. Signatories emphasised that journalism is not a crime and that the continued detention and harassment of journalists constitutes a violation of universally recognised rights.
International experts warn that the Taliban’s escalating repression could push the remaining Afghan press community into complete collapse. Many journalists who have fled the country recount experiences of torture, death threats, raids on their homes and constant monitoring by Taliban intelligence units. Those who remain in Afghanistan face daily risks, often working without legal protection, safety guarantees or institutional support.
Global rights bodies argue that the Taliban’s stance is isolating Afghanistan from the international community at a time when diplomatic engagement and humanitarian cooperation are essential. They note that sustained violations of media freedom hinder foreign assistance, obstruct transparency in aid distribution, fuel misinformation and damage Afghanistan’s ability to rebuild its institutions. Several organisations have urged world governments and the United Nations to increase diplomatic pressure on the Taliban, conditioning future engagement on demonstrable improvements in human rights, particularly freedom of expression.
Media experts also note that the Taliban’s actions contradict the foundational principles of Islamic governance, which historically values justice, accountability and the protection of human dignity. Scholars argue that suppressing journalists not only violates Afghan laws and international obligations but also deprives citizens of their right to knowledge an essential component of social stability and national progress.
CPJ and other watchdogs warn that unless the Taliban reverse course immediately, the consequences will be irreversible. The detainees’ families continue to report severe psychological distress, with loved ones kept incommunicado, denied legal representation and exposed to the risk of torture. Advocacy groups stress that the release of Mehdi Ansari and Hamid Farhadi is a humanitarian imperative and a crucial step toward restoring trust between the Afghan authorities and the international community.
As global voices grow louder, Afghan journalists both inside and outside the country continue to call for solidarity. Many emphasise that despite the dangers, they remain committed to reporting on truth, corruption, human rights violations, and the realities faced by ordinary Afghans. International organisations reaffirm that safeguarding these journalists is essential not only for press freedom but for the preservation of Afghanistan’s cultural memory, democratic aspirations and future generations’ right to information.
The international call for action underscores one consistent message: Afghanistan cannot move forward while silencing the very voices that document its realities. The world is now urging the Taliban to recognise that a free press is not an adversary but a cornerstone of any society that seeks stability, legitimacy and global cooperation.
