Taliban Authorities Target Media with Latest Radio Station Closure

• The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) has expressed grave concern over the Taliban's ongoing suppression of media outlets in Afghanistan.
• The recent closure of Radio Seday-e-Eslah in Kabul marks the latest incident in a series of crackdowns on independent media organizations.
• The radio station, which had been operating under private ownership since 2018, was shut down on August 5, 2026, over unverified allegations of ties to a banned organization.

Pattern of Media Suppression

• The Afghan Ministry of Justice previously banned other outlets, including Rah-e-Farda TV and Tamadon TV.
• The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AJC) has labeled these actions as part of a systematic campaign to exert pressure on independent journalists.

Impact on Journalists

• Since the Taliban returned to power five years ago, media professionals have faced physical violence, mental harassment, and arbitrary detention.
• Many journalists have been forced to flee the country, often living in precarious conditions abroad.
• The PEC highlighted the case of one senior journalist who was detained in 2023 and currently faces fears of deportation from Pakistan.

Call to Action

• PEC president Blaise Lempen has urged the Taliban to halt the harassment of media professionals and to reverse closure decisions to allow independent outlets to resume operations.