Key points
- Watchdog calls move violation of press freedom
- AFJC urges international intervention and action
- Media crackdown worsens since Taliban takeover
KABUL: The Taliban have revoked the operating licences of at least 10 media and journalism support organisations in Afghanistan, leaving only three groups permitted to continue working, according to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC).
The Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture announced on Monday that it would renew licences for only a limited number of organisations, accusing the others of being “unprofessional” and creating difficulties for journalists and media outlets rather than providing support, reports Kabul Now, an independent Afghan news outlet that operates in exile.
In a statement, the AFJC described the move as a serious violation of press freedom and an effort to tighten Taliban control over the country’s media sector. The watchdog said many of the affected organisations had been licensed under the previous government and had shifted their focus towards journalist training and professional development due to growing restrictions.
Silencing independent voices
An official from one organisation told the AFJC that the decision was made without any formal assessment, calling it part of a broader campaign to monopolise information and silence independent voices.
The AFJC condemned the action as unlawful and urged the international community, UN bodies, and human rights groups to intervene, pressuring the Taliban to restore the licences and protect journalists’ rights.
Press freedom has sharply deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. More than half of the nation’s media outlets have reportedly shut down, while journalists continue to face arrests, intimidation, and violence.
