Afghan Journalists Center Condemns Taliban’s Cancellation of Media Support Licenses

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has announced that the Taliban administration’s cancellation of licenses for media support organizations is a move aimed at monopolizing information and silencing independent voices in the country. The center warned that such decisions directly undermine freedom of expression and make media work in Afghanistan more vulnerable.

In a statement, the center said that the Taliban administration, by increasing pressure on media outlets and their supporting organizations, seeks to promote narratives aligned with its own agenda while closing the space for independent criticism and oversight. According to the center, current policies reflect a systematic approach to full control over the flow of information.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center added that the fate of several media organizations, which had previously received activity licenses from the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice, remains unclear and there are concerns that these organizations might also face similar actions.

The center quoted a representative of one media support organization saying that prior to the cancellation of their license, no formal evaluation or review of the organization’s activities had taken place. According to the representative, the ruling administration’s main aim is to suppress independent organizations and take comprehensive control over all matters related to the media.

Information provided indicates that the organizations whose licenses were revoked mainly operated in the training of journalists and media staff—a field considered one of the few remaining areas for professional media support under the extensive restrictions imposed by the Taliban.

Expressing serious concern, the Afghanistan Journalists Center emphasized that closing these organizations could further weaken oversight of freedom of expression and the defense of journalists’ rights, paving the way for the Taliban administration to exert full control over the country’s media structure.