A coalition of women protest groups has launched a campaign titled “Journalism Is Not a Crime”, calling for the release of journalists they say have been arbitrarily detained by the Taliban and for greater protections for press freedom across the country.
The campaign was organized by members of the Afghanistan Women’s Protest Movements Coalition, a network of women’s rights activists, many of whom have previously taken part in civil disobedience and advocacy efforts under Taliban rule.
The group said the initiative is a form of public advocacy aimed at defending freedom of expression and supporting what remains of independent journalism in Afghanistan, where media outlets face severe restrictions and mounting threats.
“Detaining journalists is an attempt to silence truth and suppress the conscience of society,” the group said in a statement. “The Taliban are afraid of the truth, and that is why they arrest those who seek to report it.”
The coalition called for the immediate release of detained journalists and demanded that Afghan media be allowed to operate freely. “Silencing journalists,” one protester said, “is equivalent to silencing a nation.”
According to a UN report, journalists in Afghanistan have faced widespread intimidation, detention, and violence since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
The report documented 336 cases of threats, arbitrary arrests, abuse, and legal persecution against media workers over a three-year period. Of those, 256 journalists — including 249 men and 7 women — were arbitrarily detained, often without charge or access to legal counsel.
Additionally, the UN said at least 130 journalists — 122 men and 8 women — were subjected to torture or ill-treatment while in custody. Another 75 journalists — 66 men and 9 women — were reportedly threatened or intimidated in connection with their work.
The report painted a grim picture of press freedom in Afghanistan, warning that the Taliban’s escalating pressure on journalists and media organizations has created a climate of fear and self-censorship.
Human rights advocates say the situation is particularly dire for women journalists, many of whom have been forced out of the profession entirely due to Taliban edicts restricting their public presence and barring them from working in most sectors.
Despite the risks, women in the protest coalition said they are determined to speak out. “We are standing for those who can no longer raise their voices,” the group said.
