National Journalists’ Day in Afghanistan: Press Freedom Under Taliban Pressure

Afghanistan marks National Journalists’ Day on Wednesday, March 17, a day dedicated to honoring the efforts of reporters who continue their work under extremely challenging conditions. The day was officially established on March 5, 2019, by the former government led by Ashraf Ghani, with the aim of recognizing the vital role of media in ensuring access to information and strengthening democratic values. In recent years, however, the situation for media in Afghanistan has deteriorated significantly. Journalists face increasing restrictions, security threats, and mounting pressure—conditions that have created unprecedented challenges for independent reporting. Media support organizations report that in 2025 alone, 15 television outlets were shut down and 205 cases of violence or violations against media workers were recorded. Five journalists remain detained under the Taliban administration. Additionally, Article 17 of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law bans the broadcast of images of living beings in 16 provinces. At the same time, Afghan journalist Shakeeb Ahmad Nazari, who had been sentenced to three years in prison, has been transferred from a Taliban intelligence facility (Directorate 40) to Bagram Prison. Authorities allege he engaged in propaganda against the group and reported on issues such as women’s access to education and employment. Despite these restrictions, Afghan journalists continue their work, keeping the flow of information alive under difficult circumstances. National Journalists’ Day serves as a renewed call to uphold press freedom and support those working in the media sector.