Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a stern warning on Thursday about the Taliban’s suppression of media freedom in Afghanistan. The Taliban have shuttered prominent news outlets, subjected the remaining ones to stringent surveillance, and enforced censorship, severely restricting journalistic freedom. HRW is calling on authorities to halt the mistreatment of journalists and to lift discriminatory restrictions, particularly those against women reporters.

The Taliban's approach includes monitoring all news content, mandating pre-publication approval by authorities, and imposing strict dress codes. Additionally, they require gender-separated workspaces and have banned broadcasting women's voices and music. This crackdown has led to a chilling effect on media activities, with journalists resorting to self-censorship and limiting their reporting to official events and ceremonies. Those who defy these rules face grim consequences, including detention, death threats, and torture.

The arbitrary nature of these impositions and their uneven enforcement across different provinces have added layers of complexity to journalists’ work. Moreover, Afghan women are facing even greater obstacles and discrimination. The Taliban have aggressively reduced women's representation in the media, banned television programs featuring women, restricted women journalists' work conditions, and curbed their interactions with male journalists.

Exiled Afghan journalists haven’t escaped persecution either. Those who fled the country post-Taliban takeover are experiencing precarious conditions, including movement restrictions, denial of refugee status renewal, and fears of retaliation for criticizing Taliban policies. Some are even at risk of forced deportation by host countries.

In response, HRW has proposed a set of recommendations to the Taliban. They urge the release of unjustly detained journalists, an end to arbitrary detentions of media workers, the lifting of all discriminatory restrictions on women journalists, and the removal of constraints on reporters’ freedom of movement. HRW also advocates for Afghan reporters to have access to official information and events.

The human rights situation in Afghanistan has significantly worsened since the Taliban's ascent to power in 2021, with increased crackdowns on women’s rights and escalated restrictions on press freedom and freedom of expression. A recent UN report condemned the deteriorating conditions for press freedom and described the environment for Afghan journalists as increasingly repressive. Furthermore, the Taliban's recent restrictions on Internet and social media use have been criticized by the UN as a serious infringement of fundamental rights.