70% of journalists are out of work in Afghanistan / Article

Afghan journalists continue to raise concerns about the situation in the country and call on the international community to listen to their concerns, as freedom of the press and media has been one of the greatest achievements of the last 20 years and is now disappearing. Journalists have conducted a survey that shows a shocking reality.

The Afghan Union of Journalists, which has not stopped working since the Taliban regime came to power, has conducted a multi-day survey to understand what is happening to the media and their staff.

The survey was conducted in 28 of the country’s 34 provinces, addressed to more than 1,000 journalists. Surveys show that 70 percent of Afghan media have stopped working since the Taliban entered, and the same number of journalists are out of work and 30 percent are still fighting.

The Taliban took everything away from me

Journalists who managed to escape from Afghanistan during the Kabul evacuation days are also trying to stop their work. Zahra Joya, who has been living in Britain for more than a month, is also a hotel set up by the government for Afghan refugees.

Zahra says: “The Rukhshana media I run is an online publication, but I have yet to find out what the British laws are in this regard so that I can continue working as a journalist legally. But I try to keep publishing the stories of Afghan women from the same room. I don’t have an office because the Taliban took everything from me. “

“I believe this is a time of struggle and resistance. We need to keep working and fight for our rights. Because the Taliban have deprived Afghan women of their voice, freedom and financial independence. And it’s very painful for us. “

Zahra admits that she has no clarity about her future life and future, just like many other journalists who have left her homeland. She does not believe that talks with the Taliban will ever be possible.

To be honest, I don’t believe in the Taliban, I think they are a terrorist group. They are from the same ethnic group who want to take over all power. I don’t know how to talk to them, how they can change their behavior and start respecting our human rights. “

You must work according to Sharia law

The Afghan Journalists ‘Union, meanwhile, has called on the new Taliban government to understand the journalists’ problems. But the Taliban have replied that journalists must follow Sharia law.

Kari Muhammad Yusuf Ahmadi, long-time Taliban spokesman and director of the government’s media and information center, has issued 11 rules that journalists should follow. These include banning the publication of information that is contrary to Islamic law or in any way offending national personalities or people in power, as well as instructing journalists to prepare material under the government office.

Reporters Without Borders concludes that these laws pave the way for censorship and retaliation.

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