Four Years Under Taliban Rule: 539 Cases of Violence Against Journalists Documented
Tawazon – The Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization (AMSO) reported on August 12 that at least 539 incidents of violence against journalists have been recorded in the country between August 2021 and July 2025.
According to the report, these cases include two murders, 20 injuries, 253 arrests, 79 threats, 51 assaults, 53 incidents of mistreatment, 59 cases of illegal conduct, five kidnappings, two attempted murders, 10 summonses, one case of surveillance or pursuit, and four robberies. Of the total victims, 487 were men and 52 were women.
The organization stated that pressure on the media and journalists has escalated to unprecedented levels since the fall of the republic, forcing dozens of outlets to close or drastically restrict their activities. Currently, 10 journalists and media workers remain in detention.
AMSO warned that press freedom and journalists’ safety in Afghanistan are facing an “unprecedented threat” and urged the international community to take immediate action to support Afghan journalists, both inside the country an in exile.
Ahmad (pseudonym), an Afghan journalist, told Tawazon: “Over the past four years, restrictions on the media, the Taliban’s refusal to provide accurate information for news coverage, and their disregard for Afghanistan’s media law have created serious challenges for journalists.”
Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also reported that since the Taliban returned to power, more than 40% of the country’s media outlets have shut down and over 80% of women journalists have lost their jobs. The group said many independent outlets, especially women-led media, have been directly targeted by repression, leaving them with severely limited ability to operate freely.
