Journalists in Afghanistan face arbitrary detention and challenging conditions under Taliban rule

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the UN Human Rights Office have expressed concern over the arbitrary detention of journalists in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. In a report released on Tuesday, they stated that the Taliban have detained journalists 256 times since taking over the country three years ago.

The report highlights the challenging conditions faced by journalists in Afghanistan. They often operate under unclear rules, risking intimidation and arbitrary detention for perceived criticism. Roza Otunbayeva, the special representative of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, urged the Taliban to ensure the safety and security of journalists and media workers, and to recognize the importance of women working in the media.

The Taliban-led foreign ministry denied the report's findings, claiming that the number of arrests was exaggerated and that detentions were carried out according to the law. They stated that no one is arrested arbitrarily and listed various infringements committed by those detained, including encouraging people to act against the system, defaming the government, and providing false information.

The ministry also claimed that women continue to work in the media, subject to certain conditions to meet religious morality rules, such as covering their faces and working separately from men. They described the UN report as being "far from actual realities" and said security forces were working to protect journalists.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 has been met with international condemnation, particularly for their curbs on women's rights and freedoms. Western diplomats have stated that the path to recognition for the Taliban administration is being stalled by these restrictions.