POSTPONED | The State of Media Freedom in Afghanistan

Due to scheduling conflicts, this event has been postponed and a new date will be announced soon.

Since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, concerns about the constraints on independent media have significantly increased. In September 2021, the Taliban implemented a series of strict rules for journalists including directives restricting publications that insult national figures or conflict with the teachings of Islam and requiring journalists to coordinate with the government media office before producing news reports. Since then, 40 percent of Afghan media outlets have had to close and 80 percent of women journalists have lost their jobs, according to research by Reporters Without Borders. At least 50 Afghan media workers have been arrested or detained, according to Reporters Without Borders, and just this month, two international journalists working for UNHCR were detained, in what could presage further crackdowns on independent and foreign media in Afghanistan.

On Friday March 4th, from 10:00AM—11:00AM EST, the Center for a New American Security will host a special virtual event on the status of media freedom in Afghanistan, featuring an expert panel discussion. Given the recent crackdowns, what are the implications for the future of independent media in Afghanistan? As the Taliban continues to seek funding and legitimacy from the international community, how will its crackdowns on journalists impact the Taliban’s engagement with other countries?

For registration questions, contact Jasmine Butler at jbutler@cnas.org. For media inquiries, contact Cameron Edinburgh cedinburgh@cnas.org.

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