Key Points
- CPJ demands the Taliban release all detained journalists before Human Rights Day
- Press freedom in Afghanistan has sharply deteriorated since the Taliban took power in 2021
- At least two Afghan journalists, Mahdi Ansari and Hamid Farhadi, remain in Taliban custody
- Journalists face arbitrary arrests, torture, threats, and long detentions
- Dozens of media outlets closed; women journalists face severe restrictions
- More than 1,500 journalists from over 100 countries back the global call for their release
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: Under the Afghan Taliban regime, journalists continue to face brutal violence, arbitrary arrests, threats, and prolonged detention, prompting a strong reaction from international rights organisations.
According to Afghan media outlet Aamaj News (Amo TV), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has demanded the immediate release of all detained journalists, urging the Taliban to act before International Human Rights Day on December 10.
CPJ stated that press freedom in Afghanistan has been severely undermined since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
The organisation confirmed that the Taliban currently hold at least two Afghan journalists—Mahdi Ansari and Hamid Farhadi— in custody.
CPJ further reported that journalists across Afghanistan face unjustified arrests, lengthy detentions, physical violence, and threats, creating a climate of fear. In addition, dozens of media outlets have been shut down, while women journalists face particularly harsh restrictions.
The watchdog said that the Taliban’s ongoing harassment and imprisonment of journalists expose the falsehood of its claims regarding freedom of expression.
According to Amo TV, more than 1,500 journalists from over 100 countries have endorsed CPJ’s demand, adding to the mounting global pressure on the Taliban regime.
Human rights advocates say the Taliban, driven by authoritarian policies, have become enemies of free expression and basic human rights in Afghanistan.
