Kabul (HRNW)- The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) has warned that increasing restrictions on access to information, arrests and pressure on journalists are creating serious challenges for independent media in Afghanistan.
In a recent statement, AMSO said restrictions on freedom of expression, access to information and journalists’ safety had intensified, placing additional pressure on media outlets across the country. The organisation reported cases of journalists being detained, threatened and subjected to interference by Taliban authorities.
AMSO said journalists in several provinces had faced threats, temporary detention and censorship, while some media organisations were reportedly pressured over the content they published. The organisation also highlighted restrictions affecting journalists’ access to officials and information, as well as increased monitoring of media activities.
The organisation has called for restrictions on access to information to be lifted and for greater safeguards to protect journalists and media workers. AMSO said continued secrecy, pressure on media outlets and interference by intelligence and government bodies have further narrowed the space for independent reporting.
The concerns come amid a broader deterioration in Afghanistan’s media environment. Other press-freedom organisations have also documented arbitrary detention, censorship and restrictions on journalists since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
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