TORKHAM
In Afghanistan, which is prone to civil war and terrorism, after the Taliban rule, the social and economic sectors have improved, while the basic human rights have also started to be violated.
Along with women and children, journalists are also among the sections for whom speaking the truth has become a crime under the Taliban.
The Taliban rule flouted the rights of journalists.
After the activation of the Taliban government in August 2021, the Afghan territory has become tight for journalists and media workers.
According to the United Nations, journalistic requirements are being violated by the Taliban government, it has become difficult for the journalist community to access facts and provide information on Afghan soil.
According to the World Organization, the field of journalism has become a challenge in Afghanistan, in which journalists face physical violence, arrests and threats.
The United Nations said there is a total ban on women journalists from April 2023. In 2021, Afghanistan was ranked 122nd in the World Press Freedom Index, which rose to 156th in 2023.
Since August 2021, 245 cases of press freedom violations have been registered, while in 2023, 2 journalists were allegedly killed and dozens arrested.
On January 7, 2023, Murtaza Behboudi, an Afghan-born French journalist, was unjustly arrested, who is still in custody.
The United Nations has pointed out that on March 6, 2023, former university professor Rasool Abdi was illegally arrested in Kabul.
Social media apps are also banned after coming to the Afghan Taliban government, Tik Tok and playing video games were banned in 2022, but the Taliban government soon indicated to ban Facebook as well.
In March 2023, YouTube made it mandatory for YouTube channels to obtain a license as per the guidelines and imposed new business taxes on channel owners.
United Nations report said that intelligence officials raided the homes and offices of media workers.
Journalists are threatened with arrest and license cancellation if they publish material critical of the Taliban leadership.
Conditional permission for the Taliban to review the text before it is broadcast or published.
United Nations has reported that since August 2021, about 40 percent of journalism organizations have stopped working, while 60 percent have lost their jobs.
In March 2022, the Voice of America was banned from broadcasting for allegedly violating national press laws, while in October 2022, two Afghan news websites were suspended for violating press laws.
United Nations said that in case of publishing anti-Taliban material, foreign journalists are subjected to harassment, threats, cancellation of visas and orders to prevent them from entering Afghanistan.
