World Access to Information Day; Taliban Restrict Media Freedom and Information.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center(AFJC) announced on Sunday, September 28, 2025, on the occasion of World Access to Information Day, that the Taliban have severely restricted freedom of expression, media independence, and public access to information over the past four years by issuing at least 22 directives.
These measures are in contradiction with the Media Law, the Afghan Access to Information Law, and international standards for freedom of expression.
In this announcement, Somayeh Walizadeh, head of the advocacy department of the Afghan Journalists Center, criticized the suppression of the media and the restriction of the flow of information, saying: “Today, Afghans live in a state of information blackout that is not caused by war, but imposed through deliberate policy. By suppressing journalists and restricting access to public data, the Taliban authorities have deprived the people of their legal right to information.”
The Afghan Journalists Center also stated that repression and censorship have replaced free access to information, and that women working in the media have been widely dismissed.
The arrests of journalists and increasing pressure on media officials have severely restricted the media space in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, presenting the country’s news community with serious challenges.
