Afghanistan: Press Freedom Restrictions Draw Strong Reaction from Media Organization

Kabul: The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) has expressed deep concern over what it described as the erosion of press freedom under the Taliban administration, along with increasing violence, arrests and severe censorship targeting journalists.

The organization called for all restrictions on access to information in Afghanistan to be immediately lifted and for the safety and protection of journalists to be ensured under all circumstances.

According to an AMSO statement, access to facts is being restricted by the Taliban administration, while pressure on media workers continues to increase. The organization said journalists and media outlets are being compelled to limit their coverage to official narratives and content favored by influential groups.

The media organization further said that severe censorship, restrictions on broadcasting live scenes and bans on political and analytical programmes, along with serious threats, have effectively crippled Afghanistan’s media system.