HRW: Freedom of Speech Plummets in Afghanistan

DID Press: Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that under the Taliban’s rule over the past four years, freedom of speech and media activity have been severely suppressed in Afghanistan. Journalists continue to face ongoing threats and pressures.

According to the report, the state of Afghanistan media is at its lowest level in the past two decades. Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, many journalists have been detained, tortured, or forced into self-censorship.

The report notes that Taliban security agencies—including intelligence services and the Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice—closely monitor media content, and any criticism of the authorities can result in harsh punishment. HRW emphasizes that freedom of expression is extremely limited, leaving journalists in constant danger.