An extensive survey of journalists from Afghanistan reveals access to information has hit a new low, while Government promises of a new media law to address this situation remain unfulfilled.
Asked their opinion on the availability of official information to journalists, 90 per cent described the situation as ‘critical’. Ninety-seven per cent do not believe that the Afghan Government is treating access to information as a civil liberty. Eighty-eight per cent said that the responses they received from Government officials in respect of their queries were ‘not at all satisfying'.
The backdrop against which the media in Afghanistan operates exacerbates these issues. There was an exodus of international media after 21 August 2021; of those who stayed many report that official sources are no longer helpful. The majority of domestic news platforms ceased operations, with many journalists fleeing the country, and almost all women journalists have been forced to stop working.
One female journalist in Afghanistan, shared a harrowing, but depressingly familiar experience with the report’s author. "I was on assignment in Kabul's third security district when agents from the Islamic Emirate's intelligence service detained me. They escorted me to the local command centre, subjecting me to insults and humiliation along the way. Once there, I was met with a torrent of aggressive and demeaning conduct from the officials. In a final act of suppression, they forcibly erased all my recorded footage.”
A seasoned correspondent for the BBC, is also quoted in the report. "Faced with an array of restrictions, we found ourselves with no option but to suspend our operations (in Afghanistan). The absence of our correspondents on the ground compounds our challenges, particularly when it comes to information access. Additionally, high-ranking officials and spokespeople from the Islamic Emirate often respond to our queries in Pashto, further complicating our comprehension and reporting. This hinders our ability to collect information accurately and maintain a balanced narrative. Moreover, these officials selectively engage, choosing to respond only to questions that align with their interests, while conveniently ignoring others.”
The report does include a contribution from Muhair Farahi, Deputy Minister for Publications in the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Information and Culture. He told researchers that a new Mass Media Law that includes provision for access to information has been drafted and is currently being reviewed internally.
The reports author is not convinced by this assurance, however and says: “This rings hollow against the backdrop of testimonials from journalists who underscore the absence of enforceable legislation and the disbandment of oversight bodies.”
The report concludes that the state of media freedom in Afghanistan threatens the ability of journalists to do their work and excludes the Afghan people from access to information to which they have a right. This has the effect of amplifying misinformation and marginalising many views.“Urgent and coordinated action, both from within Afghanistan and from the international community, is required to counter this disconcerting trend and reestablish media as a robust pillar of Afghan society.”