Ravadari: Access to Information in Afghanistan is Alarming Amid Taliban Pressure on Media
The human rights organization Ravadari has stated on World Press Freedom Day that the situation regarding access to information in Afghanistan is alarming, with media operating under intense pressure from the Taliban administration. The organization reports that since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, hundreds of media outlets have ceased operations, and many journalists have been dismissed or forced to abandon their profession.
On Sunday, 13th of Sawr, Ravadari posted a message on X (formerly Twitter), stating that dozens of journalists have been arrested, threatened, and tortured during this period, and some have even lost their lives. According to the organization, such actions have severely restricted the working environment for media and created a climate of fear.
The human rights group emphasized that in the absence of an effective legal framework to protect freedom of expression, the Taliban administration continues to impose broad control and strict limitations on media activities. Ravadari believes that the lack of independent legal guarantees has made journalists vulnerable to arbitrary and security-related pressures.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Journalists Center has reported that in just the past year, 150 violations of journalists’ and media rights have been documented by the Taliban administration. This data indicates that restrictions have not lessened but have instead become a persistent feature of the current power structure—raising concerns about the future of freedom of expression and citizens’ right to access information.
