Afghanistan Times
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KABUL — The United Nations has raised serious concerns over the deteriorating state of press freedom in Afghanistan, highlighting a “steady erosion” of independent media under the Taliban’s rule. Marking World Press Freedom Day, Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, emphasized the indispensable role of a diverse and healthy media sector in ensuring transparency, public trust, and good governance.
“World Press Freedom Day stands as a crucial reminder of the essential role journalists and media play in Afghanistan. They are the foundation of an informed and vibrant society, and their role must be protected,” Otunbayeva stated.
Afghanistan’s media landscape has been severely impacted by the country’s ongoing economic crisis, leading to a sharp decline in revenue and the closure of numerous outlets. Additionally, significant restrictions have been enforced by the de facto authorities, with media professionals facing threats, arbitrary arrests, detention, and instances of torture and ill-treatment. Women journalists, in particular, have been disproportionately affected, encountering heightened risks and barriers.
The UN also highlighted the challenges posed by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the theme for this year’s World Press Freedom Day. Patricia McPhillips, UNESCO’s Representative in Afghanistan, warned that AI can be misused to reproduce misinformation, spread disinformation, amplify hate speech, and enable new forms of censorship and surveillance, thereby creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression.
“This means national and international cooperation is all the more essential,” McPhillips added, urging collective efforts to address these emerging threats.
The UN’s concerns come amid reports that Afghanistan has ranked 175th out of 180 countries in the 2025 global press freedom index issued by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), reflecting the country’s declining media freedoms.
The United Nations has called on the Taliban to end restrictions on media professionals and urged the international community to support Afghanistan’s embattled media sector. The UN emphasized the need to uphold media rights and protect the essential role of journalists in fostering an informed and vibrant society.
