Afghanistan

Afghanistan ranks 175th out of 180 in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), scoring 17.88—classified as “very serious,” among the world’s worst, with severe Taliban repression since 2021.

Two journalists were killed in 2025 per IFJ reports (among global 128 deaths): Abdul Ghafoor Abed (killed October 14 covering Pakistan border clashes in Khost via drone strike) and Abdul Zahir Safi (killed October 16 in Kabul from alleged airstrike). No killings reported in early 2026.

Violence includes arrests (over 25 in 2025), forced confessions, media closures, harassment, beatings, and exile risks. Taliban directives enforce strict censorship, gender bans on female journalists, and total control, forcing self-censorship or shutdowns. Impunity reigns for abuses, making Afghanistan one of the most repressive environments for independent media.