Taliban blocks fiber optic internet in Afghan provinces for ‘immorality’
New York, September 17, 2025—Taliban authorities must immediately restore fiber optic internet in Balkh and up to nine other provinces to ensure that Afghan citizens have access to Wi-Fi internet and journalists can continue to provide the public with reliable news, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. “Banning broadband internet is an unprecedented escalation…
How the Taliban’s propaganda empire consumed Afghan media
In four years, the Taliban have annihilated Afghanistan’s independent media sector and supplanted it with their own propaganda empire and sophisticated digital bots that flood social media with pro-Taliban content. CPJ interviewed 10 Afghan journalists, inside and outside the country, who said that independent media, which used to reach millions of people, have largely been…
CPJ, partners urge Pakistan to halt arbitrary deportations of Afghan journalists
New York, May 28, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists, alongside PEN International and 13 partner organizations, has issued a joint statement urging Pakistan’s government to immediately halt the arbitrary mass deportation of Afghan journalists and other nationals at risk of Taliban persecution. The statement expresses grave concern over Pakistan’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” which was…
Taliban intelligence agents detain journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi in Kabul
New York, April 18, 2025—Taliban authorities must immediately release independent journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi, who was detained April 14 by General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) agents in the capital Kabul, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. “Taliban intelligence must release journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi immediately and unconditionally,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih…
Taliban ban domestic political and economic broadcasts in Afghanistan
New York, February 14, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Taliban to reverse Thursday’s ban on the broadcast of political and economic programs by domestic Afghan outlets. The Ministry of Information and Culture issued a verbal directive to media executives in the capital Kabul on February 13, stating that organizations may only address…
Taliban detains 2 media workers, suspends women-run broadcaster Radio Begum
New York, February 6, 2025—Taliban intelligence agents raided the Kabul station of Radio Begum on Tuesday, February 4, suspended broadcast operations, detained two unidentified media workers, and confiscated documents and essential broadcasting equipment, including computers, hard drives, and mobile devices. The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture accused the outlet of “non-compliance” with regulations and…
Taliban sentences Afghan journalist Mahdi Ansary to 18 months in prison
New York, January 17, 2025—A Taliban court in the capital Kabul on January 1 sentenced Afghan News Agency reporter Mahdi Ansary to 18 months in prison on charges of disseminating anti-Taliban propaganda. “Mahdi Ansary’s unjust sentence is indicative of the Taliban’s continued brutality and suppression of press freedom in Afghanistan,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s…
Taliban bans television broadcasts and public filming and photographing in Takhar province
New York, October 28, 2024—On October 13, the Taliban banned television operations and the filming and photographing of people in public spaces in northeast Takhar province according to a local journalist who spoke to the Committee to Protect Journalists under the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal from the Taliban, and media reports. “The Taliban’s latest ban on…
Taliban intelligence agents detain journalists Hekmat Aryan and Mahdi Ansary
New York, October 8, 2024—Taliban authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalists Hekmat Aryan and Mahdi Ansary, who were detained by General Directorate of Intelligence agents in Afghanistan’s southern Ghazni province and the capital Kabul, respectively, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. “Taliban intelligence must release journalists Mahdi Ansary and Hekmat Aryan immediately and…
Taliban label Afghanistan International an ‘enemy’ for reporting on alleged aid misuse
New York, September 11, 2024—The Taliban must stop harassing the popular London-based broadcaster Afghanistan International, which they accused of conducting a “propaganda war against us,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. In his September 4 speech, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Stanekzai attacked the independent outlet as an “enemy” for reporting that aid relief sent…