The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Richard Bennett called for the immediate and
unconditional release of detained journalists in Afghanistan and urged Taliban
authorities to ensure media workers can operate without fear of reprisal,
harassment, or arrest.
In a statement issued ahead of World Press Freedom Day,
Bennett warned of a sharp decline in press freedom since the Taliban returned
to power, describing an increasingly restrictive environment marked by
censorship, surveillance, and legal constraints on independent reporting.
He said journalists and media workers face growing risks,
particularly when reporting on sensitive issues such as the rights of women and
girls or when coverage is perceived as critical of the Taliban. Threats,
intimidation, and accusations of collaboration with foreign media have become
common, he added.
Bennett noted that the Afghanistan Journalists Center
documented at least 34 cases of journalist detentions in 2025. He highlighted
that women journalists face additional challenges due to restrictions on
movement, mandatory dress codes, and unequal treatment in the workplace.
The statement also pointed to a broader shrinking of civic
space, with human rights defenders, activists, and critics facing increasing
pressure. Bennett said censorship of books and media content, as well as
restrictions on access to information, have contributed to widespread
self-censorship among journalists and the public.
Despite these conditions, he praised Afghan journalists for
continuing to report under difficult circumstances in the country and in exile,
describing their work as vital for exposing human rights abuses and ensuring
public access to information.
Bennett also warned that declining international financial
and technical support is further undermining the media sector, limiting
journalists’ ability to operate safely and sustain reporting efforts.
He called on the international community to increase support
for independent media and to strengthen protection mechanisms for journalists
at risk, stressing that a free and independent press is essential for
Afghanistan’s future.
