Afghanistan and Big Fall in the Ranking of Press Freedom

The Reporters Without Borders organization (RSF), in its latest report published on Friday May 4, 2024, announced the ranking of countries in the field of press freedom and placed Afghanistan at the 178th place in the world.
Based on the report, Afghanistan has fallen by 26 places compared to last year, from 152nd to 178th in the ranking of press freedom in the world, and along with Syria, Iran, North Korea and Eritrea, being at the bottom of the table, it is said as the worst and the most dangerous countries for journalists.
In RSF report, the reason for this fall is the increase in deaths and arrests of journalists over the past year.
In this report, it is stated that the freedom of the press worldwide is threatened by the people who should be providing it; which has a direct reference to the government officials of the countries.
Meanwhile, at the same time as World Media Freedom Day, the Afghan Journalists’ Center has also published a report expressing concern about restrictions on journalists and the media and arresting journalists and warned about its consequences.
Officials of the Afghan Journalists’ Center have said that from May 2023 until now, the country’s journalists and media, compared to the last one-year period, have faced many problems and restrictions in the field of their legal rights. A number of journalists claim that government spokespersons share their information through WhatsApp when receiving calls from journalists.
However, the United Nations Women’s Department also stated in its report: “Eighty percent of female journalists in Afghanistan have been forced to lose their jobs in the media due to the restrictions and harassment and threats imposed on them. In World Media Freedom Day and always, we continue to support and support media initiatives and female journalists who strive for women’s rights and gender equality.”
Ario Krifo, the spokesperson of the US Embassy for Afghanistan who is based in Qatar, said that the legal environment for media work and the media is still in a state of uncertainty, and access to information about the functioning of government offices is limited. He still mentioned the decrease in the number of women and the representation of women in the media as the most important and disappointing issue.
Amnesty International has also announced in a statement that by doing media work in an environment free from fear and intimidation, the ground is provided for stating the truth and reflecting the current conditions of the people of Afghanistan. It is also stated in the declaration that the right to freedom of expression for the media and journalists should be prioritized and supported.
Roza Otanbayu, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Afghanistan, has also stated that at the same time as the World Press Freedom Day, they pay tribute to journalists throughout Afghanistan and continue their efforts to inform the people of Afghanistan.
The Islamic Emirate, in addition to emphasizing cooperation with journalists and media in various fields and valuing them, asks the media to carry out their activities based on national and Islamic values.