KABUL: The “Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, Nai” organization has announced that visual media activities in Panjshir province have been banned, calling this move another indication of the erosion of freedom of expression in Afghanistan. In a statement released on Thursday, Nai reported that local media outlets received letters from the Taliban requesting them to cease their broadcasts. According to Nai, all legal structures supporting free media and freedom of expression have been dismantled during the more than four years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Statistics from the organization indicate that over half of the active media outlets during the republic have been shut down, hundreds of journalists have been forced to flee the country, and 90% of women working in media have lost their jobs. Currently, only about 200 out of 2,000 female journalists are still working, and they are operating under extremely challenging conditions. Additionally, over 800 incidents of violence against media personnel have been recorded during this time, with 350 cases resulting in the imprisonment of journalists, and several others remain in Taliban custody. Nai condemned this situation and urged countries that support the Taliban and international organizations to cease their financial and political backing. They called for pressure to be applied to ensure the freedom of journalists and the restoration of popular sovereignty in Afghanistan.
- Advertisment -
