BAHARİN LEHİB

Kabul - Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, Afghan people have been suffering from the collapse of the half strapped system, poverty, unemployment and expensive food prices. Domestic violence and femicide cases have also increased. According to Deutsche Welle, since the Taliban takeover, 70% of the journalists have lost their jobs and 50% of Afghan media outlets have vanished. Journalists are concerned for their personal and professional safety and 95% of women journalists have lost their jobs.

According to the survey conducted by IFJ-affiliate Afghanistan National Journalists Union (ANJU) across 33 provinces, shows 318 media have closed since 15 August 202, just 305 of the 623 media which were active before the Taliban took control are still operating. “The collapse of media and threats against journalists mean just 2334 journalists are still working from a pre-Taliban high of 5069. Just 243 women are still employed by the media. 72% of those who have lost their jobs are women,” the survey said.

NuJINHA spoke to Susan Raheel, a freelance journalist and one the women journalists have been unemployed since the Taliban takeover.

“Journalists faced many challenges even before the Taliban takeover,” she said, “In addition to not having accurate information and being censored, journalists were killed and targeted. Nine journalists were killed in a double suicide bombing in Kabul on April 30, 2018. After the Taliban takeover, many media outlets were closed down over political and financial reasons. Journalists, particularly women journalists, have faced many challenges because the Taliban aim to confine women to home. Women face difficulties in participating in outdoor activities and in reporting.”

“Women journalists are insulted and humiliated by the Taliban”

Underlining that there are women journalists, who keep reporting in the country despite all the challenges, Susan Raheel said, “Another problem is that the unions that support journalists no longer support women journalists. Women journalists are insulted and humiliated by the Taliban.”