December 27, 2025
Kabul – The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has released its 2025 annual report, which assesses the media landscape and journalistic environment in Afghanistan as severely constrained and repressive during 2025. The report, based on data collected from various provinces and a meticulous review of incidents involving violations of media rights, indicates that the media space in Afghanistan has been subjected to intense control and suppression throughout this period.
According to the report, published today, Saturday, December 27, the AFJC documented at least 205 incidents of violence and violations against media freedom in 2025. These include two fatalities, three injuries, 166 threats—including 34 cases of journalist arrests—five of whom remain in detention.
The report highlights that over the past twelve months, pressures exerted by the ruling authorities have led to increased censorship and repression. Examples include forced confessions from imprisoned journalists, restrictions on the participation of female journalists in press conferences held by senior officials, and the censorship of women's voices during live news coverage. These measures exemplify the propagation of a climate of fear, authoritarianism, and severe gender-based discrimination—phenomena unprecedented in the country's recent history.
One of the significant threats is the expansion of bans on the publication of images of living beings, which increased from 17 provinces in 2025 to 23 provinces following the enforcement of the Law on Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in August 2024. This development has led to the closure of at least 20 television stations. Additionally, during this period, two television channels and two radio stations were shut down due to their refusal to implement the Taliban government's restrictions and independent reporting. The few remaining media outlets operated by women have faced serious threats of closure due to gender discrimination.
Apart from the journalists who were killed or injured in attacks attributed to Pakistani forces in Afghanistan, all other incidents have been attributed to entities and officials within the de facto authorities. The total number of incidents in 2025 marks an approximately 13% increase compared to 2024, which recorded 181 incidents.
Despite these challenges, the de facto authorities have utilized both formal and informal structures to turn state-controlled and affiliated media into tools of propaganda and disinformation. Simultaneously, they have suppressed independent and free media, severely restricted access to information, and established complex and opaque mechanisms to implement a "single voice" policy—promoting a unilateral narrative while marginalizing dissenting voices, tarnishing the reputation of independent media and journalists.
AFJC emphasizes that this situation raises profound concerns regarding the violation of fundamental rights of journalists and media outlets, as well as the restriction of essential freedoms. It also poses serious threats to the future development of media and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.
For the full report, please visit Here