Afghanistan Journalists Center records 102

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) recorded at least 102 violations of media freedom in Afghanistan over the last twelve months. This marks the fifth year of Taliban governance since their return to power in August 2021.

According to the AFJC's annual report 2026, the media environment remains severely restricted. The organization states that de facto authorities are working to close even the smallest openings for free expression. While the total number of incidents is nearly half of the 190 cases reported the previous year, the severity of repression has not diminished.

Documented Violations and Arrests

AFJC documented the detention of 15 journalists and media workers since August 2025. Three other journalists and media activists, imprisoned for over a year, are currently serving sentences. At least 29 media outlets and journalistic entities were shut down or had their licenses revoked during this period for violating Taliban media policies.

The report details a growing arsenal of repressive measures. Media outlets are forced to avoid interviewing unapproved individuals and must broadcast propaganda from the de facto authorities. At least five media outlets ceased operations due to restrictions from the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) and the morality police.

Expanding Bans and Censorship

A ban on publishing images of living beings was officially announced in five additional provinces: Balkh, Herat, Paktia, Oruzgan, and Kapisa. Since its introduction in 2024, this ban is now in effect in 25 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.

Visual reporting and video interviews are banned across roughly half of the approximately 40 de facto government departments. Restrictions on smartphone use by government employees further limit journalists' access to information. Control over media content has intensified.

Targeting of Women and New Legal Threats

Restrictions on female journalists increased, with pressure on media outlets to limit women's voices and content. Women have been censored during press conferences, and their participation in programs has been blocked. At least two local radio stations closed after allowing women to participate via phone during live shows.

For the first time, the de facto GDI, coordinating with the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, publicly released forced video confessions of three detained journalists. A new Code of Criminal Procedure, enacted one year after a vice ministry law, grants judges broad authority and severe penalties. The AFJC says this vague code, while not explicitly targeting media, exposes journalists to legal threats and imprisonment.

New Repressive Forces and Disruptions

The report notes a shift in repressive power. The traditional Ministry of Information and Culture has been marginalized. The Ministry of Justice, alongside the GDI and the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has become a new repressive force. This ministry recently closed a private television station, confiscated its assets, and imprisoned two staff members.

Temporary internet shutdowns and restrictions on telecommunications services, though lasting only two days, caused significant public disruption and severely impacted media operations. Combined with expanded morality police powers over behavior and dress, the legal environment increases risk for all citizens, particularly women journalists.

In light of these findings, the AFJC calls upon the international community and global media advocacy organizations to hold the Taliban accountable. The organization urges targeted political, financial, and technical support to sustain independent journalism and protect those at risk.