KABUL — Marking World Press Freedom Day on Saturday, the European Union reiterated its commitment to supporting Afghan journalists, with particular emphasis on women, who continue to face heightened threats and restrictions under Taliban rule.
In a statement, the EU emphasized the importance of a free, independent, and secure media environment, calling it essential to building a stable society and ensuring the healthy flow of information. The bloc said it would continue supporting Afghan media through initiatives aimed at strengthening journalists’ technical skills across various fields.
The renewed commitment comes amid escalating pressure on journalists in Afghanistan, especially women, who have faced growing censorship, intimidation, and detention since the Taliban returned to power.
“Today, the voice of the Afghan press is being suffocated,” several Afghan journalists and media activists said in video messages shared to mark the occasion.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center also released a report ahead of World Press Freedom Day, documenting a sharp rise in violations against the press over the past year. Between May 2024 and May 2025, the group recorded 215 incidents, including 175 cases of direct and indirect threats and 40 arrests of journalists.
The report noted a 58 percent increase in such violations compared with the previous year, underscoring what rights advocates say is an increasingly dangerous environment for Afghan media workers.
Afghanistan currently ranks among the lowest in global press freedom indexes, with journalists operating under what media watchdogs describe as one of the most repressive environments in the world.
