Two years into Taliban rule, media repression worsens in Afghanistan

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When the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021, they promised to protect press freedom and women’s rights—a key facet of their efforts to paint a picture of moderation compared to their oppressive rule in the late 1990s.

Two years later, the Taliban have not only reneged on that pledge, but intensified their crackdown on what was once a vibrant media landscape.

In the past week alone, CPJ has documented how Taliban authorities detained two journalists and banned women’s voices from broadcasts in one province, and how intelligence agents held three journalists in custody on claims they reported for exiled media outlets.

As the Taliban seek to end Afghanistan’s international isolation, the absence of reliable and trustworthy news continues to silo the country from the rest of the world.

“The grim anniversary of the fall of Kabul is a reminder that the international community can and must pressure the Taliban to respect the wishes of the Afghan people and allow the country to return to a democratic path, including allowing a free press,” wrote CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi in an op-ed for Nikkei Asia.