17 journalists killed and 28 injured during three years of Taliban rule

Afghan journalists residing in the U.S. and Europe report that 17 Afghan journalists have been killed and 28 others injured during the Taliban’s three-year rule.

According to a report published by journalist associations, over 300 journalists have been imprisoned by the Taliban during this period. The report also reveals that out of 536 active media outlets in Afghanistan before the Taliban’s return to power, 250 have either shut down or ceased operations due to Taliban restrictions.

The crackdown has disproportionately affected female journalists, with the number of women in media shrinking from nearly 2,000 to fewer than 100.

Furthermore, only 4,500 of the 12,000 journalists active before the Taliban takeover have been able to continue their work.

Recent Taliban directives, including banning media from displaying images of living beings under their interpretation of Islamic law, have forced several television stations to shut down.

The report underscores the deteriorating state of press freedom and the significant challenges faced by journalists under the Taliban regime.