Reporters Without Borders: Afghan Journalists Face Threats and Arrests Every Day Inside and in Exile

Photo: United Nations / DPPA

Reporters Without Borders (RSF), condemning the ongoing harassment of Afghan journalists by the Taliban, has called on third countries to protect them from the danger of forced return to Afghanistan by granting visas and ensuring security.

Martin Roux, head of RSF’s Crisis Desk, in reaction to the situation of Afghan journalists said: “Since the takeover of Kabul on 15 August 2021, the Taliban have steadily tightened their grip on Afghanistan’s media and journalists. These men and women, who are only carrying out their mission of reporting the facts, face threats, arrest and torture every day. After four years of Taliban rule, the constant risks, uncertainty, and challenges that journalists face even in countries where they flee have become unbearable.”

He emphasized: “The admission of Afghan journalists must be reassessed in light of the severity of this international crisis. Whether as a transit country or as a final host, all states need to stop ignoring this issue, recognize the risk of deporting or expelling these journalists, and ensure real protection for them through measures such as issuing visas.”

According to RSF, since the beginning of 2025, 13 Afghan journalists have been forcibly returned from Pakistan while their visa applications for other countries were still under review. The organization has also reported an increase in visa rejections by France in July.

RSF, citing a UN report, has warned that in 2025 alone, more than three million Afghans, including nearly 100 journalists, will be forced to return from Pakistan and Iran, a return that places journalists in Afghanistan at serious risk of human rights violations.

The organization has recalled that since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, more than 165 journalists have been arrested, some tortured and others directly threatened. In 2024 alone, 12 media outlets were completely shut down.

According to RSF, since 2021 the organization has assisted 654 Afghan journalists, 86 percent of whom have left the country. Of these, 169 journalists have been resettled in France and some continue their media activities.

RSF concluded by stressing that “host or transit countries must not turn a blind eye to the danger of sending Afghan journalists back. Deportation or visa rejection directly returns these journalists into the hands of the Taliban.”