Obaidi: The World Must Quickly Relocate At-Risk Afghan Journalists to Safe Countries
Tawazon – The International Symposium on Freedom of Expression opened today (Friday, November 21) in Berlin, Germany.
During the event, Hamid Obaidi, head of the Afghan Media Support Organization, devoted much of his speech on the dire situation of Afghan journalists who have fled Afghanistan and are now struggling in third countries under extremely difficult conditions. He said that although these journalists escaped Taliban threats, they continue to face security, legal and economic challenges.
According to Obaidi, the situation of Afghan journalists abroad has deteriorated drastically over the past two years, with Pakistan described as the most source of concern.
“Hundreds of Afghan journalists in Pakistan spend most of their time in parks and other relatively safe places because they fear police,” he said. “Their visas are not extended, they are detained, and deported without regard for the dangers they face.”
He added that the lack of visa extensions, ongoing security crackdowns, and the constant threat of deportation have placed journalists in grave danger. The long delays in asylum processing by the United States, Canada, European countries, and the UNHCR have increased their psychological distress. Some journalists have been waiting for up to three years with no clear outcome.
Obaidi stressed that Afghan journalists in Iran, Turkey, and India are also facing similar challenges including lack of legal documents, no work permits, and constant fear of detention. Long, delayed and non-transparent asylum procedures in India and Turkey have also deepened their economic hardship.
He warned that the future of exiled Afghan media outlets is also uncertain. These outlets, considered the “last hope” for censored Afghanistan, are struggling due to financial shortages. Over the past two years, at least 12 exiled Afghan media outlets have shut down, and many others are operating under severe pressure.
According to Obaidi, security risks are the most serious threat to these media outlets, as the Taliban continue to pressure local sources in Afghanistan, making information gathering increasingly difficult. He said that international organizations such as the European Union, the United Nations and other supporting organizations lack long-term strategies to support these media platforms, which further endangers the future of free freedom.
While highlighting the crisis facing exiled journalists, Obaidi also described the situation inside Afghanistan. Since the Taliban takeover, more than 550 cases of violence against journalists have been recorded, and restrictions on women’s work have further weakened the media sector. According to him, “around 80% of independent media in Afghanistan have either shut down or significantly reduced their operations.”
Obaidi urged the international community to listen to the voices of Afghan journalists in third countries, expedite their humanitarian cases and relocate them to safe countries. “We must not allow the last remaining hopes of free media to disappear,” he said.
He emphasized that supporting exiled media, as well as improving the safety and capacity of journalists inside Afghanistan, is essential for the survival of freedom of expression.
