UN Says Future of Afghanistan’s Media in the Balance
On World Press Freedom Day, the UN expressed grave concern for the Media’s future in Afghanistan, where journalists are compelled to operate in an environment of fear and intimidation.
“On World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations expresses serious concern for the future of Afghanistan’s media, with journalists forced to work in a climate of intimidation and fear amid increased restrictions by the Taliban de facto authorities,” the UN said a statement.
Many media professionals have left Afghanistan since August 2021, and the country’s economic turmoil has affected the industry. Numerous media outlets have shut down, and female journalists have been disproportionately impacted because of additional restrictions that have made it almost impossible for them to do their jobs.
UNAMA has documented numerous human rights violations against journalists and media workers by the de facto authorities over the past 18 months. Arbitrary arrests and detentions, ill-treatment and threats have been employed to suppress freedom of expression.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, said World Press Freedom Day was a moment to show solidarity with the Afghan journalists still attempting to maintain independent reporting in the country.
“Journalists are forced to make editorial decisions based on fear, not public interest. It is sadly part of a wider trend of declining freedom of expression and access to information,” Otunbayeva said.
“The persistent intimidation, threats, and attacks on journalists are unacceptable. We urge the Taliban de facto authorities to guarantee the freedom and independence of the media and the safety of journalists, women and men alike.”
Afghanistan dropped from 122 on the 2020 World Press Freedom Index of Reporters without Borders (RSF) to 156 (out of 180) in the 2023 report.
On the other hand, on World Press Freedom Day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared that “the world must stand with journalists as they stand for the truth.”
“All our freedom depends on press freedom. However, in every corner of the world, freedom of the press is under attack.” He continued by saying, on World Press Freedom Day and every day, the world must stand with the journalists as they stand for the truth,” he said.
“Stop detaining & imprisoning journalists for doing their jobs. Stop the threats & attacks. Stop the lies & disinformation. Stop targeting truth & truth-tellers. As journalists stand up for truth, the world must stand with them,” he added.
A new report by the Afghanistan Journalists Centre (AFJC) showed that the situation of the media in the country has deteriorated, and the violence cases increased by 64 per cent in 2022.
The research reveals that between May 2022 and May 2023, at least 213 instances of violence, threats, and incarceration of journalists were reported in the nation.
Meanwhile, one person was killed, 21 were injured, six people were physically harassed, 115 people were threatened, and 70 journalists were detained, of which at least two journalists, Murtaza Behbudi and Khairullah Parhar, are still captivated by the de facto authorities.
Since the Taliban regained power in the country, the past two decades’ achievements in Media and “free media activity” has lost as the 65 % of journalists and media workers have lost their jobs, NAI said.
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