JX Fund – European Fund for Journalism in Exile

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is alarmed by a worrying increase in the restrictions imposed on journalists, with authoritarian directives on women journalists’ dress, restrictions on women’s access to the audiovisual media and a ban on filming or photographing Taliban officials.

Zahra Nader ist the founder and editor-in-chief of the Afghan Magazine Zan Times. For the Institute of War & Peace Reporting she reflects on her mission and shares what helps her to keep fighting for equality and justice in Afghanistan.

Nadio Momand was a journalist and a law student in Afghanistan. But with the Taliban back in power, she has left her home and her dreams behind.

The journalism landscape in Afghanistan has undergone a significant and distressing transformation following the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan and the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021.

Former Afghan journalist Hedayatullah Zyarmal, who now lives in Bruchhausen-Vilsen, talks about his desire to continue his media work and the hurdles he has to overcome.

Afghanistan’s once thriving media sector has been facing myriad challenges under Taliban rule. Despite all challenges, however, Afghan journalists continue to produce factual, objective news.

Resisting the Taliban’s efforts to make women in Afghanistan invisible, a group of female journalists establishes an online magazine. An interview with Zahra Nader, founder of ZanTimes.

Independent Afghan newspaper Etilaatroz faces challenges after the Taliban’s return in 2021. Journalists emphasize the importance of international support for press freedom, legal aid, and training.

Exiled Afghan journalist Zahra Nader confronts Taliban oppression. Her news outlet Zan Times investigates issues like suicides and forced marriages, involving both in-country and exiled journalists.

The Pakistani government plans to deport 1.7 million undocumented Afghans. The international community has called on Pakistan to suspend the deportation plan and provide assistance to refugees.

This report highlights the Taliban’s controlled media strategy, allowing room for resilience. Despite ongoing repression, media in exile is gaining strength, effectively countering disinformation.

Amid Taliban’s media control, journalists confront threats and censorship. Still, exiled and independent media grow stronger. Technical and financial support play a crucial role.

Two new solidarity centers have been launched by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), with the support of UNESCO.

Media outlets shrink, but resilience endures, particularly in exile. Afghan journalists defy Taliban repression, yet women encounter heightened challenges. RSF plays a vital role in providing support.

The US initiated a resettlement program for Afghan citizens, but the process has been delayed, leaving many women journalists in precarious conditions in Pakistan. The author calls for alternatives.

Amid the Taliban’s takeover, Zan Times emerged in August 2022, aiming to cover human rights violations with a focus on Afghan women. There, journalists face harassment, detention, and assault.

Zahra Nader, an Afghan journalist in Canada, champions women’s voices through Zan Times, an exile-based outlet. Despite Taliban restrictions, she empowers women to share their experiences.