As the world observes Human Rights Day, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a strong appeal to the Taliban to release all journalists detained in Afghanistan. The organization emphasized that the ongoing imprisonment of reporters starkly contradicts promises of media freedom and human rights commitments made by the Taliban since their takeover in 2021.
CPJ highlighted the case of at least two Afghan journalists, Mahdi Ansary and Hamid Farhadi, currently held on charges related to their work with exile-based media outlets.
Since August 2021, press freedom in Afghanistan has sharply declined, with journalists facing arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, assaults, threats, censorship, and restrictions, especially targeting women journalists. Internet shutdowns and the closure of numerous media outlets have further stifled independent journalism in the country.
“The actions of the Taliban violate the fundamental right to freedom of expression and directly undermine their public statements about media independence,” CPJ stated. The organization pointed to a pledge made by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in August 2021, promising that private media would remain “free and independent,” and urged the group to honor these commitments.
CPJ called on the Taliban to take meaningful steps on this significant day by releasing all imprisoned journalists, allowing them to reunite with their families and work without fear of reprisal. The appeal gains additional weight as over 1,500 journalists from more than 100 countries endorsed a solidarity call for the release of Afghan journalists during the recent Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Malaysia.
“The continued detention and harassment of journalists in Afghanistan undermine any claims of moderation or respect for human rights,” CPJ concluded, urging the Taliban to reverse course and ensure genuine press freedom in the country.