Media in Uncertainty; The Legal Framework Under Taliban Rule

 

Tawazon – Since August 2021, the media sector in Afghanistan has been one of the areas most deeply affected by change. These changes are not only legal but have also directly impacted journalists’ daily work and people’s access to information.

To understand the current situation, it is important to examine how the legal framework has changed, how these changes affect media work and what consequences they have for freedom of expression and the public sphere.

With the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the media situation has changed significantly. While in the past there were relatively clear laws, such as the Mass Media Law and the Access to Information Law, today most decisions are made through directives and orders.

This has created an unclear and unpredictable working environment, where journalists are often unsure what is allowed and what may lead to consequences. As a result, media outlets have gradually moved away from being independnt sources of information and are increasingly operating within official frameworks. Freedom of expression, once recognized to some extent as a legal right has now become more limited and conditional.

These changes have not only affected the media but also influenced society more broadly. Many people even outside the media sector have become more cautious in expressing their views. Reports indicate that some journalists avoid sensitive topics due to fear of repercussions.

Overall, media outlets now play a less critical and watchdog role and are more focused on transferring official information. This reduced diversity of viewpoints and affected the quality of public discourse.

Oversight Organizations and the Situation of Journalists

Significant changes have also taken place in regulatory and oversight structures. Institutions that previously played a regulatory role are now more focused on controlling and restricting media activities, this has increased pressure on journalists.

According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), more than 150 cases of threats and around 20 cases of journalist detentions have been recorded in recent years. Some of these detentions were carried out for reasons unrelated to professional media work. This situation has created a climate of fear, forcing many journalists to exercise extreme caution.

Reports by Reporters Without Borders also show that Afghanistan ranks among countries with very limited press freedom. Many journalists have either left the country or stopped working. The situation is more difficult for women journalists. Around 80% have lost their jobs and those still working face stricter limitations.This has reduced women’s presence in media and limited diversity in news coverage.

Press Freedom and Journalist Safety

Since August 2021, press freedom and journalists’ safety in Afghanistan have significantly deteriorated. Journalists have faced severe restrictions, threats, arbitrary detention, torture and in some cases, killings. As a result, Afghanistan is now considered one of the most dangerous countries for journalists.

Reporters Without Borders has stated that with the Taliban’s return to power, the “death knell for press freedom and journalist safety, especially for women journalists,” has been sounded.

At the national level, the Afghanistan Journalists Center, in a report marking World Press Freedom Day expressed concern about increasing repression and continued detentions. According to the report, since May 2025, at least 150 violations of media freedom have been recorded, including 127 threats and 20 arrests. Among those detaind, five were arrested for not having beards in line with Taliban standards, while others were detained for not following official policies. Four journalists remain in prison.

Another report by the Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) indicates that from August 2021 to July 2025,at least 539 cases of violence against journalists have been recorded, 487 involving men and 52 involving women. As of August 2025, at least two media workers have been killed, 20 injured and 253 detained.

Meanwhile, UNESCO has warned that manipulation of information can increase division and reduce public trust. In a statement marking World Press Freedom Day, it emphasized that access to reliable information is essential for building peaceful and resilient societies. UNESCO described free and accurate information as a pillar of peace.

At the international level, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan Richard Bennett has described press freedom in Afghanistan as collapsing and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists. He noted that journalists operate in a “restrictive and hostile” environment shaped by censorship, surveillance and fear.

Women journalists face even greater challenges. According to RSF, eight out of ten women journalists have been forced to leave their jobs while those remaining face serious restrictions, discrimination and harassment.

Access to Information and Economic Challenges

Access to information has also become a major challenge.Journalists face serious difficulties obtaining official information. Many institutions do not easily share information and reporters often wait days or receive no response at all. As a result, journalists sometimes rely on unofficial sources which may not always be accurate.

At the same time, the economic situation of media outlets has worsened. With declining international support, reports show that more than half of private media outlets have either shutdown or reduced operations. Many journalists have lost their jobs or moved to other professions.

This has also affected media independence. Limited financial resources make it harder for outlets to operate frely and maintain quality reporting. In some cases, media organizations avoid critical topics and focus on less sensitive content to survive.

Conclusion

Overall, the media sector in Afghanistan faces serious challenges. The lack of clear laws, security pressures, restricted access to information and economic difficulties have created a highly constrained environment for journalists.

Statistics show that hundreds of violations and dozens of detentions have been recorded in recent years, indicating an ongoing and worsening trend rathr than a temporary situation.

If this continues, media outlets will further lose their ability to provide independent reporting and oversight, society will face reduced access to diverse and reliable information and the information space will become increasingly controlled.