Freedom Of Expression In Afghanistan Is In Grave Danger, Warns AJSO
The Afghanistan Journalists' Support Organisation (AJSO) said that without support for Afghan media, the future of freedom of expression in the country is in serious danger.
The Afghanistan Journalists' Support Organisation (AJSO) said that without support for Afghan media, the future of freedom of expression in the country is in serious danger.
On the occasion of World Television Day, the organisation said that a serious crisis threatens media and television in Afghanistan.
A statement issued by the AJSO on Thursday (November 21) read that in the past three years, Afghanistan's visual media have faced widespread restrictions and severe pressures.
The organisation said that the Taliban has severely restricted freedom of expression and the free flow of information by imposing censorship, shutting down the media, and creating an atmosphere of fear and threats against journalists.
The statement also noted that many TV channels have been forced to stop operating or broadcasting content in accordance with the Taliban's ideology. The pressures have had a particularly significant impact on female journalists. Since the Taliban came to power, many female journalists have been deprived of their jobs and some have been forced to leave the country.
The Afghanistan Journalists’ Support Organisation has emphasised that these conditions have endangered not only the freedom of the media, but also the right of the Afghan people to access information.
The organisation called on the international community, human rights organisations, and media organisations to take immediate and practical action to support Afghan media and journalists.
World Television Day, which is celebrated annually on November 21, honours the role of television in promoting culture, information and education. This day reminds us of the impact of television as one of the main communication tools in spreading public awareness and promoting freedom of expression in democratic societies.
This day was introduced by the United Nations in 1996 as an opportunity to inform people about the vital role of television in modern societies.
