The Erosion of press Freedom: Taliban’s Assault on Journalism in Afghanistan
– Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, #Afghanistan has become an increasingly inhospitable environment for journalists and media workers.
– The United Nations reports a troubling trend of rights violations against the press, painting a grim picture of the state of journalism in the country.
– Access to reliable information on #Afghan soil has become an arduous task for #journalists, who now face physical violence, arrests, and intimidation, according to the United Nations.
– The situation took a drastic turn with the total ban on women journalists from April 2023, a move condemned by the international community. – In the World Press Freedom Index, #Afghanistan plummeted from 122nd place in 2021 to 156th in 2023, highlighting the severe deterioration of media freedom under the Taliban regime. Shockingly, there have been 245 documented cases of press freedom violations since August 2021, including two alleged journalist killings and numerous arrests in 2023 alone.
– The plight of journalists is exemplified by the unjust arrest of Afghan-born #French journalist Murtaza Behboudi on January 7, 2023, who remains in custody. Similarly, on March 6, 2023, former university professor Rasool Abdi was illegally arrested in #Kabul, adding to the growing list of media professionals facing persecution. – Social media apps, including #TikTok and video games, have been banned since the #Taliban‘s rise to power.
– Alarming reports suggest that #Facebook
@facebook is also on the verge of being banned, according to the United Nations. In March 2023, #YouTube
@YouTube channels were mandated to be licensed, and new business taxes on channel owners were imposed by the Taliban government.
– The crackdown extends to media workers’ homes and offices, with intelligence officers conducting raids, further stifling the freedom of the press.
– Journalists face threats of arrest and license cancellation if they publish material critical of the Taliban leadership.
– Shockingly, the Taliban demands conditional permission to review text before broadcast or publication, signaling a disturbing level of control over journalistic content.
– As of August 2021, approximately 40 percent of journalism organizations have ceased operations, while 60 percent of journalists have lost their jobs, according to the United Nations. – In March 2022, Voice of America
@VOANews was banned from broadcasting, and in October 2022, two Afghan news websites were suspended, both allegedly for violating national press laws.
– International organizations are urged to take practical measures in response to the exploitation of media in Afghanistan.
– The escalating assault on press freedom demands swift and decisive action to safeguard the rights of journalists and ensure the free flow of information in this challenging and oppressive environment.
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