The Precarious State Of Press Freedom In Afghanistan

Afghanistan's free press has been in a state of flux since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021. The country's media landscape has been decimated, with over half of its media outlets closing down and more than two-thirds of its journalists leaving the profession. The situation is especially dire for female journalists, who have been barred from workplaces, subjected to restrictions and abuse, and in some cases, tortured.

The Taliban's return to power has resulted in a rollback of the progress made towards a free press in Afghanistan over the last two decades. During that period, the country had witnessed the growth of print, radio, and television journalism, with reporters serving as watchdogs of the Taliban and the sitting Afghan government. However, the current regime's repression of journalists, strict censorship, and control of information have sounded the death knell for press freedom in the country.

The Taliban's impact on the free press in Afghanistan

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 has had a devastating impact on the country's free press, with journalists facing violence, intimidation, and restrictions on their work. The situation is particularly dangerous for female journalists.

A Dark Age for the Afghan Press

Under the Taliban's rule in the 1990s, there was effectively no free press in Afghanistan. The only Afghan-produced news came from "Voice of Sharia", a radio station controlled by the Taliban. After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the country experienced a period of relative freedom for the press, with the new constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression and the right to publish without prior submission to state authorities. This led to the development of a thriving media scene, with over 100 newspapers and 170 radio stations.

However, since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, this progress has been largely wiped out. According to the International Federation of Journalists, more than half of Afghanistan's media outlets have shut down, and over 70% of the journalists who have left the profession are women. The remaining media outlets face severe restrictions, with female presenters required to cover their faces, and music banned from TV and radio stations.

Violence and Intimidation

Journalists in Afghanistan now face violence and intimidation from the Taliban, with those working with foreign media or in exile particularly targeted. Since the start of peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in 2020, at least five journalists and three media workers have been killed. Journalists have also been subjected to arbitrary detention, beatings, and torture by the Taliban.

Censorship and Self-Censorship

The Taliban has imposed broad and vague media regulations that prohibit any critical reporting about the group. As a result, journalists are engaging in self-censorship, with those who are still operating mostly interviewing Taliban officials and refraining from publishing anything critical. The Taliban has also banned the publishing or broadcasting of anything that is "contrary to Islam", "insults national figures", or "distorts news content".

A Fight for Survival

The remaining Afghan journalists are navigating a perilous environment, with their resilience offering a glimmer of hope. However, without significant international pressure and support, it is unclear how long Afghanistan's free press can survive.

The role of female journalists in Afghanistan

Female journalists in Afghanistan have played a crucial role in the country's media landscape, advocating for women's rights and empowerment and covering issues such as reproductive health, domestic and sexual violence, and gender discrimination. However, they have faced significant challenges, threats, and violence, especially with the return of Taliban rule.

Under the Taliban's rule, female journalists have been forced to flee the country, lost their jobs, or gone into hiding. Those who remain face restrictions and abuse, such as harassment, extremely low salaries, and travel restrictions. Despite these challenges, female journalists continue to risk their lives to report on the situation in Afghanistan, especially the struggles faced by women and other marginalised communities.

One notable female journalist is Zahra Joya, who founded Rukhshana Media, a news website dedicated to sharing stories of Afghan women, written by Afghan women. Joya, from the persecuted Hazara community, started Rukhshana Media to disrupt the male-dominated media landscape and ensure that women's stories are told from their perspective.

Another example is Zuhal Ahad, a 27-year-old Afghan journalist who worked for the BBC covering women's affairs in Afghanistan. Ahad and her family received threats due to her work, forcing her to leave the country with her family. She continues her work as a freelance journalist from Canada, covering Afghanistan.

The return of the Taliban has had a devastating impact on the media in Afghanistan, with more than half of the media outlets shutting down and over 70% of journalists leaving the profession, the majority of whom are women. Female journalists who remain in the country are subject to restrictions and abuse, and their lives are constantly at risk.

Despite the dangers and challenges, female journalists in Afghanistan have demonstrated bravery and resilience in their efforts to amplify the voices of women and marginalised communities. They have played a crucial role in advocating for human rights and exposing the realities of life under the Taliban rule. Their work is a testament to their commitment to their profession and their country.

The future of Afghanistan's free press

Afghanistan's free press has been described as "crumbling" following the Taliban's takeover in 2021. The country's media landscape has been decimated, with more than half of media outlets closing down, and over 70% of Afghan journalists leaving the profession. The situation is particularly dire for female journalists, who have been forced to stop working and subjected to various restrictions and abuse.

Under Taliban rule, the media in Afghanistan is now required to broadcast information controlled by the government. Extra-judicial executions, arbitrary arrests, and detentions have increased, and criticism of the government is strictly forbidden. The few remaining independent media outlets are based in exile and are accessible online to those with internet access.

However, there may be a glimmer of hope. Afghanistan's independent media has survived for the past two decades thanks to foreign funding and international projects. With continued support from the international community, particularly major democracies such as the United States, Europe, and India, there is a chance to help Afghanistan rebuild its free press and strengthen its democratic institutions.

As of 2024, the situation on the ground remains dangerous and unpredictable. Journalists continue to be targeted for doing their jobs, and the Taliban's restrictions on the media and women's rights appear to be rolling back any progress made over the past 18 years. The future of Afghanistan's free press hangs in the balance, and the international community's response will be crucial in determining its outcome.

The safety of journalists in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has long been a dangerous place for journalists, and the situation has only worsened since the Taliban takeover in 2021. The country's free press has been decimated, with more than half of its media outlets closing down, and over two-thirds of its journalists leaving the profession. The few journalists who remain, especially women, face a multitude of restrictions and abuse, and are often targeted by the Taliban, other militant groups, and unofficial militias.

The dangers faced by journalists in Afghanistan are not new. Since 2001, over 60 journalists have been killed, and many more have been wounded. The country's independent media has been sustained by foreign funding and international projects, but with the withdrawal of international forces and funding, the situation has become increasingly precarious.

Under the Taliban, journalists are subject to arbitrary rules and vague threats, with severe consequences for non-compliance. They are required to broadcast government-controlled information and are prohibited from criticising the Taliban government or covering certain topics, such as religion, the status of women, minorities, and human rights. Female journalists are particularly vulnerable, facing restrictions on their travel and access to sources, as well as harassment and extremely low salaries.

The Taliban's "11 rules of journalism", enacted in September 2021, have paved the way for greater persecution. Journalists who violate these rules risk arrest, detention, and torture at the hands of the Taliban security forces and the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI). The GDI arrests journalists arbitrarily, holds them incommunicado, and tortures them for periods ranging from a few days to several months.

The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) and other organisations have worked to create safe environments for journalists, providing safe houses and facilitating evacuations. However, the threat remains ever-present, with journalists routinely receiving threats, intimidation, and harassment.

The situation has led to a mass exodus of journalists, particularly women, from the country. Those who stay must practice self-censorship to avoid retaliation, undermining the very idea of journalism and the role of the free press in a democracy.

How a free press has strengthened democracy in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has a population of 40 million people and has experimented with different forms of government since its emergence as a modern nation-state. From absolute and constitutional monarchies to the first republic and communist/Marxist regimes, never has Afghanistan experienced as much democratic rule as over the past 18 years since the fall of the Taliban.

Free press, a key feature of any rising and functioning democracy, has played a crucial role in strengthening democratic governance and the rule of law in Afghanistan. Free media has directly contributed to the rapid development of a still-growing civil society and has empowered vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and the poor – who make up the majority in Afghanistan – to increasingly exercise their rights under the country's progressive constitution.

Women's Empowerment

Firstly, the free press – through TV, radio, and print – has empowered women to see how they can play their rightful, equal role in helping to stabilize, rebuild, and develop Afghanistan sustainably. Radio Shaesta, established by the activist Zarghona Hassan in Afghanistan’s Kunduz Province, centred women’s voices on topics ranging from politics to reproductive health, and distilled actionable information for self-empowerment. At one point, Radio Shaesta had an estimated 800,000 listeners, a testament to the influence of its programs such as “Unwanted Traditions,” which scrutinized the attitudes and practices that stifled girls' advancement.

Social Media

Secondly, Afghan media has lost no opportunity to tap into social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others – to serve their role as a check on the government, helping expand transparency and highlight efforts or the lack thereof to fight corruption.

Investigative Journalism

Thirdly, since the judicial institutions of Afghanistan, including law enforcement agencies, lack adequate investigative capacity and are still developing, the free press has filled some of the gaps, investigating and reporting on major crimes and cases of corruption. This interim contribution from the press has helped the government take punitive measures against the perpetrators, who could have possibly escaped justice.

Naming and Shaming

Even when exposure by the press of corruption and crimes has delivered gradual results, the public has at least been informed of the principal criminals and those engaged in corruption and the undermining of the rule of law. This naming and shaming by the media have helped expose the corrupt, who would otherwise evade public knowledge and eventually justice.

Legislative Checks

Moreover, Afghan media has helped shape and direct electoral processes, reforms, and campaigns, including presidential, parliamentary, provincial, and now district elections across the country. As relevant state institutions remain weak, media have informed the public of their electoral rights, how to exercise them, as well as the logistical and security preparations in place for conducting elections at the national, provincial, and local levels. Ensuring transparency and fairness in all electoral processes has been one of the key achievements of media as a contribution to the institutionalization of democracy in Afghanistan.

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