Afghanistan Plunges to 178th in 2024 World Press FreedomIndex

Afghanistan has suffered a devastating decline in press freedom, plummeting 26 places to rank 178th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on World Press Freedom Day. The war-torn nation scored a dismal 19.9 points, only ahead of Syria and Eritrea, which scored 17.41 and 16.64, respectively.

Why this matters: The decline of press freedom in Afghanistan has far-reaching implications for the country's democratic development and the safety of its citizens, as a free press is vital for holding those in power accountable. In addition, the Taliban's The decline of press freedom in Afghanistan has far-reaching implications for the country's democratic development and the safety of its citizens, as a free press is vital for holding those in power accountable. Additionally, the Taliban's repression of the media sets a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes, threatening global press freedom and the ability of journalists to report on human rights abuses.

RSF attributes Afghanistan's alarming drop to the deaths and arrests of journalists, plus the Taliban's relentless harassment and intimidation of media personnel, severe restrictions on reporting, and pervasive censorship. "The Taliban's control over this nation of 40 million has sounded the death knell for press freedom and the safety of journalists, particularly female reporters,"RSF stated. "Media outlets are now compelled to broadcast information dictated by the Taliban government."

The dire situation for Afghan journalists was further highlighted by reporter Samim Faizi, who expressed concerns over the Taliban's crackdown on media activities. "The greatest challenge we face is the violation of our right to access information, which is severely restricted," Faizi said. "We urge international organizations to fully support Afghan media to uphold freedom of expression."

Since seizing power nearly three years ago, the Taliban has implemented a series of repressive measures, including preventing the publication of news critical of their actions, banning shared programming between male and female presenters, silencing women's voices on radio in some provinces, and requiring female TV presenters to wear masks or conceal their faces. These draconian policies have severely undermined press freedom and gender equality in Afghanistan's media sector.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported at least 136 incidents of media freedom violations from May 2023 to May 2024, including 72 threats and 64 arrests. Since March 22, 2024, the Taliban has detained at least eight journalists in the provinces of Kunduz, Ghazni, and Khost. Journalist Sayed Yasin Matin expressed concerns about temporary detentions, saying, "This is our concern. We expect accountability from specific institutions and hope for increased protection for journalists."

The 2024 World Press Freedom Index, which assesses 180 countries based on journalists' ability to work and report freely and independently, reveals a global decline in press freedom and a significant increase in political repression of journalists and independent media outlets. The Maghreb and Middle East regions saw the highest government restrictions on press freedom, with governments seeking to control media through violence, arrests, and harsh laws, accompanied by systematic impunity for crimes of violence against journalists.

In the South Asian region, Afghanistan ranks at the bottom, while Nepal emerges the leader in press freedom, ranking 74th globally with a score of 60.52. The Maldives follows at 106th with a score of 52.36, Bhutan at 147th with a score of 37.29, Sri Lanka at 150th with a score of 35.21, Pakistan at 152nd, and India at 159th. Globally, Norway retains its top spot with a score of 91.89, followed by Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland, and Germany, rounding up the top 10.

Anne Bocandé, RSF's editorial director, aptly stated, "RSF is observing a worrying decline in support and respect for media autonomy and an increase in state or political pressures. State and political actors are increasingly less protective of press freedom. This abandonment is often accompanied by more aggressive measures that compromise journalists' roles or even exploit the media through harassment or misinformation campaigns."

Key Takeaways

• Afghanistan ranks 178th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
• Taliban's repression of media sets a dangerous precedent for authoritarian regimes.
• 136 incidents of media freedom violations reported in Afghanistan from May 2023 to May 2024.
• Global press freedom declines, with Maghreb and Middle East regions seeing highest government restrictions.
• Norway tops the index, while Afghanistan, Syria, and Eritrea rank at the bottom.