ÖREBRO, Sweden — On World Press Freedom Day, the 2025 Pen2Pen Freedom of Expression Award was presented to Zan Times, an online publication led by Afghan women in exile, recognized for its courageous reporting on human rights violations in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
Founded in 2022 by Zahra Nader, an Afghan journalist based in Canada, Zan Times was created in response to the Taliban’s return to power and the subsequent silencing of women’s voices. The outlet focuses on stories of gender-based violence, censorship, and the lived experiences of Afghan women, working closely with contributors who report anonymously from inside the country.
“We are honored and deeply moved by this recognition,” Nader said. “For our team — especially the women journalists working in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions in Afghanistan — it is a powerful reminder that we are not alone in our fight for press freedom.”
The award, which includes a prize of 20,000 Swedish kronor (about $1,800), was established in the 1960s by the Örebro County Press Club in Sweden to honor journalists who promote freedom of expression under threat.
Zan Times operates from Edmonton, Alberta, with a small editorial team and a network of freelancers reporting from across Afghanistan. Due to security risks, all contributors inside the country work under pseudonyms and communicate through secure channels. Some have been forced into hiding after covering sensitive topics.
Nader said she used her personal savings — originally set aside to build a home in Afghanistan — to launch the outlet. “When the Taliban took over in 2021, I knew I couldn’t go back because of my work as a journalist, especially with The New York Times,” she said.
Despite limited funding and growing censorship, Zan Times continues to publish investigations on topics largely avoided by other outlets, including a surge in suicides among Afghan women, abuse in Taliban custody, and sexual violence linked to forced morality policing. The newsroom also trains women journalists online; 30 completed training in 2024, with another group currently enrolled.
“We are convinced there is significant international interest in the reality of gender apartheid in Afghanistan,” said Nader. The outlet has partnered with international publications including The Guardian to reach broader audiences.
In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released Friday by Reporters Without Borders, Afghanistan ranked 175th out of 180 countries, reflecting what the group called one of the world’s harshest media environments.
“Zan” means “woman” in Farsi. “With the name Zan Times,” Nader said, “the message is clear: it is now women’s time to tell the truth.”
