Afghanistan: Distressed Afghan Women Journalists Need Urgent Help as Life Under Taliban Becomes Increasingly Difficult
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October 24, 2024 - Afghanistan
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Photo Courtesy: The Associated Press
Women Press Freedom is alarmed at the unimaginable distress and threats that Afghan women journalists and activists are enduring in the country with many of them reaching out to us to share their disturbing ordeal.
CFWIJ, since August 2021, has evacuated and assisted at least 800 journalists, women leaders and activists to safety. We continue to document and highlight the cases of threats to women journalists there. But numerous more cases await redressal with individuals facing serious threats in the country. WPF’s 5-year data shows at least 33 cases of threats to women journalist which includes the murder of at least seven till date.
These women journalists, who are forced to live under the tyrannical rule of the Taliban, are residing in their homeland in the midst of constant intimidations, pressures, censorship, oppressive laws, violence, harassment and immense risk to their lives and that to their families.
The instances have been directly reported to us with their testimonies detailing the gruesome torture endured, severity and seriousness of their state of being under the oppressive regime. A journalist also reported about her fingers being cut during a crossfire in the midst of a deadly attack. Another informed of receiving death threats and harm to her family. They live in constant fear of imprisonment, harassment, violence and even death for merely doing their job under imaginable circumstances.
Life for journalists and Afghanistan’s overall press freedom situation under the Taliban has remained susceptible to dangers and challenges ever since the Fall of Kabul in August 2021. The Taliban government has stripped these journalists of their right to work freely, silence them via repressive laws and bar women from participating in public life. Some of the women journalists, who continue to report important stories amid the threats, face grave risks to their lives to amplify the voices of those who are voiceless.
We urge the international community to prioritize the safety of these women journalists, advocate for press freedom in Afghanistan and offer urgent support to protect their lives. Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Afghan women journalists and resolves to highlight their plight so their voices are not erased from the country’s media landscape.
WPF is deeply concerned about the disappearance of British journalist Charlotte Peet. The freelance correspondent, who has reported for Al Jazeera and The Times, went missing after arriving in São Paulo.
WPF denounces police officers for unjust detentions of journalists and excessive use of force. We demand accountability from authorities.
Kutaisi City Court fines 8 journalists— including Kutaisi Pos' Eka Kukhalashvili, — for protesting outside a judge’s house.
Special operations police violently detain JIN News journalist Öznur Değer after raiding her family home in Kızıltepe, Mardin.
Jahangir has been targeted for her show discussing fake blasphemy accusations used to blackmail people.
Investigative journalist and editor-in-chief of Neovlivní, Sabina Slonková, and her family placed under police protection due to serious threats.
WPF condemns assault on journalist. Demands police take action.
WPF strongly condemns the politically motivated sentencing of journalists Chadha Hadj Mbarek (5 years) and Chahrazad Akacha (27 years in absentia).
WPF strongly condemns the detention of journalist Shahnaz Baylargizi. The latest in the alarming state crackdown on independent media in the country.
On January 30, 2025, police detained Telex journalists Noémi Gombos and Dániel Simor for attempting to question PM Viktor Orbán.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the detention of Halk TV journalist Seda Selek.
Journalist and Siirt Municipality Co-Mayor Sofya Alağaş has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization."
Five police officers detained Exitosa Noticias's Fátima Constantino while she was reporting on traffic chaos in Chiclayo.
WPF strongly denounces the deportation of the award-winning journalist. Demands answers from Maltese authorities.
WPF denounces the Delhi court’s order for police to officially investigate Washington Post journalist Rana Ayyub, potentially leading to further legal action against her.
Gisella Bayona is facing identity theft—imposters solicit money & contacts in her name. Bayona reported the case to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, but no action has been taken.
Medya Haber journalist Eylem Babayiğit detained after a raid on her home in Istanbul.
WPF demands the immediate release of ETHA reporter Züleyha Müldür, detained during widespread police raids this morning.
Police detain 6 Kurdish journalists following raids. Three women journalists Reyhan Hacıoğlu (Van), Rahime Karvar and Necla Demir were later arrested on terror-related charges.
WPF celebrates the release of Palestinian journalists Bushra Al-Taweel and Rula Hassanein as part of the first phase of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal.
Palestinian Authority security forces detain Al-Jazeera journalist Givara Budeiri and her cameraperson while reporting live outside Israel’s Ofer prison.
Women Press Freedom welcomes the decision of Paris' anti-terrorism judges not to indict Disclose journalist Ariane Lavrilleux.
Ministry of Internal Affairs issue an arrest warrant for exiled journalist Alesya Marokhovskaya, chief editor of the independent investigative outlet IStories
Russian drone targets journalist Margarita Potapova and her Ukrainian Witness film crew near Zaporizhzhia.
Voice of America reporter Ulviyya Ali has been banned from travel after police interrogation over the MeydanTV case—despite having no ties to the outlet.
WPF strongly condemns the legal harassment of journalist Anna Nini and Press Project publisher Konstantinos Poulis for their coverage of a high-profile trial in Greece.
Israeli airstrike kills journalist and photographer Ahlam Al Nafed while she was walking to Al Shifa Hospital on January 14, 2025.
Police in Mersin beat and obstruct Fatoş Sarıkaya from filming, throwing her press card to the ground.
Mzia Amaghlobeli was detained twice in Batumi—first for posting a strike sticker, then during a protest. She’s now accused of assaulting a police chief, a charge carrying 4-7 years imprisonment
Four men, claiming to be police, abducted the journalist, restrained her, seized her phones, and demanded access to her accounts. She was held for four hours before being released.