Afghan Journalists Center Report: Publication of Investigative Reports Disappearing

Sayed Abdul Raqib Fayaz

Bayan News – The Afghan Journalists Center (AFJC) has expressed concern in its six-month report about the state of media freedom in Afghanistan, stating that due to the restrictions imposed by the caretaker government in Kabul, the publication of independent and investigative reports has disappeared.

This report, published on Saturday, November 18th, documents events related to Afghan media and journalists from the month of Hamal to the end of the current year in the Afghan Solar calendar.

According to the AFJC report, 75 cases of arrests and threats against journalists by the forces of the Islamic Emirate have been recorded in the first six months of this year.

The report indicates that most of the journalist arrests have been carried out by the intelligence forces of the Islamic Emirate, and in some cases, the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Ministry of Virtue and Vice have also been involved.

Recent research by this organization shows that the caretaker government in Kabul has issued more than 10 directives regarding Afghan media in the past two years, which have dictated the behavior towards media and journalists.

According to this report, currently, not only in provinces but also in Kabul, the working conditions of media outlets are facing challenges, and the current restrictions have made it impossible to produce independent and investigative reports.

The report states, “Severe limitations on journalists’ freedom of expression in the current situation of the country persist, even in the virtual space.”

According to this center, the restrictions imposed by the Islamic Emirate on media and journalists have had negative effects on the Afghan media community and have posed challenges to the process of informing the public.

However, after gaining control of Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate revoked the licenses of several media outlets that violated the principles of the current system.

Furthermore, media outlets that provide realistic coverage and consider the public interest are acceptable to the Islamic Emirate.