The report detailed the challenges to Afghan media in the past two years. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in a new report titled “Afghan journalism still resisting after two years of Taliban persecution” said that more than 80% of Afghanistan’s women journalists have had to stop working since 15 August 2021.
“And of the roughly 12,000 journalists – male and female – that Afghanistan had in 2021, more than two thirds have abandoned the profession,” the report cited.
The report detailed the challenges to Afghan media in the past two years.
“Latest examples: at the beginning of August, the local authorities in Nangarhar province closed the premises of Hamisha Bahar television and radio under Sharia law, thereby depriving the radio stations Nen – which was housed there and used the same technical means of broadcasting – and Jawanan – which had a transmitter there for local radio broadcasting –, of their ability to broadcast,” the report reads.
“The problems which exist should be solved, otherwise this situation will force other media outlets to stop their operations,” said Masror Lutfi, the head of the Afghanistan National Journalists Union (ANJU)
Meanwhile, some journalists voiced concerns about the restrictions in access to information over the past two years.
“We have faced many restrictions and we could not find information on time,” said Mustafa, a journalist.
“Unfortunately, the journalists cannot receive on-time information” said Habibullah, a journalist. This comes as the Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) claimed that the ministry has not closed any media organizations over the last year.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Culture in charge of publication, Mahajar Farahi, said that the interim government supports journalists and media.
“Within one year, the Islamic Emirate, particularly the Ministry of Information and Culture, has not closed any media organizations. However, there could have been some exemptions of violations,” he said.
RSF said that based on the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA), more than half of the 547 media outlets that were registered in 2021 have since disappeared.
“Of the 150 TV channels, fewer than 70 remain. Of the 307 radio stations, only 170 are still broadcasting. The number of news agencies has gone from 31 to 18,” the report cited.
—Agency
