The Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) says media outlets and journalists in Afghanistan are facing a “multilayered, organised and widespread crisis” under Taliban rule, with increasing arrests, physical violence, censorship and interference in media affairs.
The Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) published an analytical report titled “Under the Shadow of Fear and Censorship” on Sunday, saying its findings are based on information collected from across Afghanistan between 10 June and 10 July 2026.
The report examines the situation of Afghan media across four main areas: journalists’ security and physical safety, administrative and professional challenges, technological restrictions, and ideological limitations.
According to the report, journalists faced arbitrary arrests, mistreatment, physical assaults and security threats during the reporting period. AMSO said some journalists were detained by Taliban intelligence agencies after covering official events, while others were arrested and beaten over routine disputes, including disagreements related to transportation costs.
The organisation said journalists who were released from detention were pressured to remain silent about their treatment and discouraged from filing complaints or speaking publicly about their experiences. According to AMSO, such practices have increased fear and self-censorship among media workers.
In another part of the report, AMSO criticised Taliban spokespersons for their methods of releasing information, saying many announcements are published late at night or through personal social media accounts rather than official channels during working hours. The organisation said this practice has made access to information more difficult for journalists and has, in some cases, resulted in administrative disputes and salary deductions.
The report also highlighted increased interference by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in media activities. AMSO said some radio stations have received warnings over broadcasting women’s voices, while inspectors from the ministry continue to visit media offices.
The organisation further stated that journalists remain under pressure to grow beards and change their appearance in accordance with Taliban directives.
The report said Taliban authorities have warned journalists against publishing reports about Afghanistan’s economic challenges, rising fuel prices, disputes among Taliban officials and details of security incidents in both traditional media and social media platforms. AMSO said some journalists have faced threats of detention or suspension for publishing such reports.
AMSO also described restrictions on smartphone use in several government offices as a major obstacle for journalists, saying the measure has significantly affected access to information, communication with officials and the production of video reports and interviews.
In its conclusion, AMSO said Afghanistan’s media sector is facing a deep, widespread and multidimensional crisis. The organisation warned that declining freedom of expression, systematic restrictions on access to information, growing security, economic and psychological pressure on journalists, and increasing censorship pose a serious threat to the future of Afghanistan’s media landscape.
AMSO added that these pressures could lead to the gradual loss of professional journalists and media workers from the country’s already shrinking media sector.
