The IPI global network is deeply concerned by the increasing attacks on media freedom in Afghanistan following the suspension of two online media outlets, Hasht-e聽Subh聽Daily and Zawia News by the Taliban. IPI calls on the Taliban to stop censoring the media and allow Hasht-e聽Subh聽Daily and Zawia News to operate under their domain names.
On Monday, October 3, the Taliban鈥檚 Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology that it had suspended the domains of Hasht-e Subh Daily and Zawia News. Anayatullah Alokozay, a ministry spokesperson, that the suspension for 鈥渟preading false propaganda鈥�. Both sites had been largely operating from outside of Afghanistan since the Taliban鈥檚 takeover in August 2021. The Afghanistan Journalists Center the regime鈥檚 act, calling it: 鈥渁nother sign of the tightening of restrictions against free media in Afghanistan鈥�.
is an independent and non-profit news outlet that began operations in 2007. Founded by a group of journalists and human right activists, Hasht-e Subh itself as a defender of democratic values and human rights that strives to 鈥渂ecome the voice of the victims in the field of transitional justice鈥�. In a statement given to IPI, the outlet confirmed that the Taliban had suspended its domain (www.8am.af), which it had legally purchased and had been using since the start of its operations. Hasht-e Subh also told IPI that despite the suspension, they had managed to safeguard the contents of their website, storing their archive on an external server. They denounced the Taliban鈥檚 action and vowed to 鈥渞emain committed to professional, independent, and fair journalism鈥�, and 鈥渢o reflect the truth and to be the voice of people.鈥� Hasht-e Subh can now be reached at a new domain, .
was founded in 2019 and describes itself as a 鈥減ioneer of digital media鈥� that aims to 鈥渞eflect the diverse realities of Afghanistan鈥�. In a statement given to IPI, founder and CEO Esmatullah Mohib said that the Taliban authorities had previously attempted to shut down Zawia News鈥檚 Facebook page (through which they reach a significant part of their audience), but have failed. He said that the regime sees Zawia as anti-Taliban for attempting to cover the realities of what is currently happening in Afghanistan. Following the suspension of their original domain (www.zawia.af), Zawia News moved its operations to the website of its parent company, . Mohib told IPI that he sees Zahia News as 鈥渢he voice of the people鈥�, and “and reiterated that they remain committed to covering the Taliban’s repressive regime”.
According to a by the Afghanistan Journalists Center, the media environment in Afghanistan has significantly deteriorated since the Taliban came to power during the summer of 2021. The report records a total of 245 media freedom violations over the past year, including censorship, detentions, physical assault, and verbal harassment. It notes that over 50 percent of media outlets have been shut down, while a significant majority of journalists unable to find work.
Hasht-e Subh told IPI that many reporters have left the country, as 鈥渨orking under the Taliban鈥檚 rule is not only impossible but also dictates serious risks to the journalists鈥�. Agreeing with that assessment, Esmatullah Mohib added that the risk to female journalists is particularly great, as many of them have been barred from working. Mohib describes the overall situation as 鈥渄evastating鈥�, emphasizing that 鈥渢he situation on the ground is much worse than people know鈥�.
鈥淭he Taliban鈥檚 suspension of Hasht-e聽Subh聽Daily and Zawia News is a clear act of censorship intended to further suppress sources of independent information in Afghanistan, including any content critical of the Taliban鈥檚 repressive regime鈥�, IPI Director of Advocacy Amy Brouillette said. 鈥淲e call on Taliban authorities to immediately reverse these unjust suspensions and allow journalists to do their work freely and without fear of retaliation.鈥�
She added: 鈥淭he members of the IPI global network continue to stand in solidarity with our Afghan colleagues, and we call on the international community to effectively stand up for the rights of independent journalists in Afghanistan.鈥�