Taliban’s Crackdown on Afghan Journalists: 336 Targeted Since 2021
Amnesty International reported on World Press Freedom Day (May 3, 2025) that Taliban authorities have detained, tortured, or threatened 336 journalists and media workers between August 2021 and September 2024, Amu TV reported. The findings expose systematic efforts to suppress press freedom, including shutting down critical outlets and imposing severe restrictions on news content.
The Taliban have banned television and radio programs deemed oppositional, restricted live broadcasts, and enforced rigid controls over interviews and political talk shows. Journalists face retaliation for covering Taliban governance or challenging the group’s religious and social norms. These measures have driven widespread self-censorship and forced many professionals to abandon journalism, worsening Afghanistan’s global press freedom ranking.
Amnesty condemned the violations and called for international action: urging pressure on the Taliban to end repression, legal protections for Afghan journalists, and advocacy for imprisoned media workers. The organization emphasized global responsibility to uphold free expression, particularly in repressive regimes, and repeal laws stifling independent journalism.
On World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty rallied supporters to assist at-risk journalists and promote press freedom worldwide. The report underscores the Taliban’s escalating media blackout and its devastating impact on Afghanistan’s civic space.
