The Taliban-appointed governor of Herat Province, Noor Ahmad Islamjar, has claimed that media outlets in Afghanistan are now free and that news is reaching the public in a clear and transparent manner. He said people can now distinguish between different media outlets and claimed that the country’s media have achieved “freedom and independence”.
Islamjar made these remarks on Tuesday (November 10) in an audio message released by the Herat provincial media office. He described media owners as the country’s true sons and claimed that people can now protect themselves against misinformation.
However, international media support organisations say that journalists in Afghanistan have faced arrests, harassment, torture and censorship since the Taliban’s return to power. Reports also indicate that female journalists are barred from covering certain press conferences.
Furthermore, according to media support organisations, under Taliban directives, domestic media outlets are required to use terminology to describe the group’s armed opponents that contradicts professional journalistic standards.
This comes as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has included the name of Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada on its 2026 list of 33 individuals and organisations accused of restricting press freedom.
It is worth noting that, according to available information, several journalists remain imprisoned in Kabul and Bagram because of their journalistic activities.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
