KABUL — Afghanistan on Monday marked National Journalists’ Day, an occasion that comes amid mounting restrictions on press freedom and a reported 24 percent increase in violations against journalists and media outlets in the past year.
The Afghanistan Independent Journalists’ Association, in a report released to mark the day, emphasized the importance of freedom of expression, access to information, and job security for journalists. The organization warned that even in Afghanistan’s largest media outlets, job security is not guaranteed, leaving many journalists vulnerable.
According to the report, 4,748 journalists, including 747 women, are currently working in the country’s media. However, more than half, particularly those in the provinces, work without salaries or employment benefits.
The Afghan Journalists’ Center, which tracks press freedom in the country, reported that media restrictions and violations of journalists’ rights have risen by 24 percent over the past year.
The organization said the Taliban have enforced a “vague media policy” that has intensified crackdowns on independent reporting.
Over the past 12 months, the center documented 172 cases of media violations, including the closure of 22 media outlets due to Taliban-imposed restrictions and the arrest of 50 journalists.
Afghanistan’s National Journalists’ Day was officially recognized on March 5, 2019, by the cabinet of former President Ashraf Ghani and added to the country’s national calendar.
However, in recent years, Afghan journalists have faced unprecedented threats, censorship, and suppression, making press freedom more fragile than ever.
