Afghanistan has lost nearly 60 percent of its journalists, primarily women, since the Taliban came to power a year ago, according to a poll released Friday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
“Of the 11,857 registered journalists before the Taliban came to power, only 4,759 remained,” the French-based organization said in a statement.
According to the NGO, 219 out of a total of 547 media outlets that were active in the country a year ago stopped working.
Journalists were the most affected: 76% lost their jobs. There are only 656 women left in journalism, the vast majority of them in Kabul.
Despite being boycotted by the international community, the Taliban maintains a strong hold on society.
“Journalism has drastically declined in Afghanistan over the past year,” said RF Secretary Christophe Deloire.
“Authorities must commit to ending violence and harassment against media workers and allow them to run their business unhindered.”
Afghan fundamentalists accuse them of immorality as a justification for forcing them to quit their jobs.
“The living and working conditions of women journalists in Afghanistan have always been difficult, but now we live in an unprecedented situation,” journalist Meena Habib told RSF.
“They are working in severe and exhausting conditions, physically and mentally, without any protection,” he said.
Some organizations had to stop streaming music, and others saw their external funding sources cut off.
A decree issued by Supreme Leader Haibatulah Ahundzada last month bans “insulting and criticism of government officials without evidence”.
RSF said at least 80 journalists were detained last year and three of them are now in jail.
Afghanistan ranks 156th out of 179 countries in terms of press freedom.
source: Noticias
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