Afghan Witness Archives - Centre for Information Resilience

Information environment Arrests Religious Freedom Media Taliban

Oct 9

Taliban announce tighter controls on media, scholars, and online platforms

Taliban ban TikTok and PUBG, restrict controversial discussions in media and target political analysts

Information environment Arrests Media Taliban

Sep 12

Social media activists arrested in eastern Afghanistan

In August 2024, the Taliban arrested two social media activists, Khetabullah Bangakh and Abdul Rahman Gulab, for spreading anti-Taliban content. Both were featured in confession videos pledging support to the Taliban.

Violence Arrests Poppy clearance Protests Taliban

May 24

Protests in Badakhshan: Deadly clashes over poppy field destruction

On 3 and 4 May 2024, protests in Badakhshan's Darayim and Argo districts erupted after clashes between locals and Taliban counter-narcotics teams over the destruction of poppy fields, resulting in deaths and ongoing protests despite Taliban attempts to resolve the issue.

Information environment Arrests Media Taliban

May 9

Media environment: Two outlets suspended and other journalists arrested

The Afghan media landscape has been under sustained pressure since the Taliban takeover, with the closure of two TV channels linked to political parties and a series of journalist detentions in recent weeks, indicating the Taliban's ongoing efforts to control the media landscape.

Arrests Women's rights

Feb 26

Surge in female suicides linked to forced marriages, Taliban violence, and arrests

Documenting 195 cases of suicide since April 2022, AW has observed a rise in female suicides since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and identified a pattern suggesting that ethnic minorities appear to make up a disproportionate share of the reported cases

Arrests Media

Feb 12

Nan FM radio closure highlights media freedom tensions

Targeted intimidation technique or unpaid rent dispute? Conflicting claims regarding the forced closure of Nan FM Radio, Khost, illustrate the Taliban’s tensions with media entities

Arrests Women's rights

Jan 31

Arrests for violating Taliban Hijab rules cause controversy

The Taliban’s reported detentions for non-compliance with hijab rules have received mixed reactions: contradictory claims from Taliban officials, concern from local groups, and condemnation from international community.

Arrests Media

Sep 1

Reported journalist arrests hit 2023 high as Taliban introduce ID cards

At least 13 journalists were reportedly arrested by the Taliban between July 20 and August 13.

Investigations Media Education Security Violence Public punishments Arrests Women's rights Resistance Protests

Aug 14

Two years of Taliban rule: documenting human rights abuses using open source

Report by Afghan Witness details more than 3,000 claims of human rights violations in Afghanistan under Taliban rule

Information environment Foreign relations Arrests

Jul 3

The arrest and release of pro-Taliban influencer Mobeen Khan

The social media influencer has allegedly been arrested twice, with both occasions coinciding with him making critical comments towards Afghanistan’s neighbours.

Arrests Women's rights

Mar 1

Female protesters detained in Kabul and Takhar

While one of the protesters was reportedly released the next day, women's rights protester Narges Sadat is thought to still be in detention.

Information environment Arrests

Mar 1

Taliban arrest two satirists over rush on Kabul airport

Several hundred people gathered at Kabul International Airport on February 8 after rumours circulated that Afghans could fly to Turkey to support the earthquake relief effort – however, AW’s assessment of the arrested men’s social media profiles suggests they were not initiators or significant amplifiers of the ‘flights to Turkey’ story.