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What is the Biggest Lie About Afghan Women?

  • Booda Media

In this podcast episode of Booda Media’s “Fasl-e-Digher” program, Lina Rozbeh, a renowned Afghan poet, writer and journalists talks about women, migration, war, identity, freedom, the Taliban and the current situation and future of Afghanistan. Moreover, she discusses her experience in media and literature, the fate of women, the role of intellectuals and the responsibility of media.

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“I Never Wanted to Be a Migrant Without a Homeland”

  • Tagesspiegel
  • Haideh Faghiry

After growing up stateless in Iran, Haideh Faghiry finally found a sense of home in Kabul—until the Taliban takeover forced her to flee again. In this Tagesspiegel essay, the Afghan journalist reflects on exile, belonging and the pain of losing a homeland twice.

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The Story of a Woman Who Would Not Back Down

  • Future Afghanistan
  • Sima Hatami

Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Afghan women have been pushed out of schools, workplaces, and public life with a speed that shocked the world. In a matter of days, freedoms that had taken years to build disappeared. Yet in those early weeks, before fear could fully take hold, some women stepped outside and raised their voices.

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A Letter from Margaret Atwood to Afghan Women

  • Zan Times
  • Margaret Atwood

In a letter published by Zan Times, author Margaret Atwood addresses Afghan women living under Taliban rule. Drawing parallels to her book The Handmaid’s Tale, she highlights the erosion of rights and underscores writing and solidarity as tools of resistance and dignity.

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UN Rapporteur Calls for Greater Support for Afghan Exiled Media

  • KabulNow

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has called for greater international support for Afghan journalists and media outlets, both inside the country and in exile, saying they are the primary defenders and documenters of what is happening under Taliban rule.

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Exiled Journalists: Free Speech, Resettlement & Advocacy

  • The Good Men Project
  • Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Said Najib Asil, founder of the Free Speech Centre and former head of Current Affairs at TOLOnews, shares his journey from leading Afghan media to supporting exiled journalists worldwide. In this interview, he discusses advocacy, training, and the urgent needs of displaced media workers facing professional, economic, and mental health challenges.

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A Roadmap to Protect Independent Journalism Worldwide

  • Inter-American Dialogue

A February 2025 report from the Inter‑American Dialogue outlines a comprehensive roadmap for protecting independent journalism in closed and repressive environments. Drawing on insights from media practitioners and experts, it sets out strategies to strengthen legal guarantees, sustainability, safety and resilience, offering actionable ideas to support journalists and news outlets under threat at home or in exile.

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Afghanistan: “Half the Population is Silenced”

  • France24
  • Marc Perelman

FRANCE 24 spoke to Saad Mohseni, co-founder and CEO of Moby, Afghanistan’s largest media group. His new book “Radio Free Afghanistan” chronicles the ups and downs of building a media conglomerate in the country.

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Afghanistan: The Most Catastrophic Place for Women

  • 8am Media
  • Tamanna Rezaie

Afghanistan under Taliban rule is more than just the “worst” place for women—it’s a catastrophic reality of oppression. Forced marriages, executions, and a brutal denial of basic rights are just the beginning of the horrors Afghan girls and women endure daily.

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Access Denied: Newsgathering in Repressive Regimes

  • Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
  • Osamah Golpy

The role of journalism in authoritarian and conflict-affected regions remains as crucial as it has ever been. While technological advances provide new opportunities for newsgathering, there are still plenty of pitfalls for those who are trying to convey the truth.

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Inside the Virginia Newsroom of Amu TV

  • The Atlantic
  • Cora Engelbrecht

How he exiled Afghans of Amu TV are holding the Taliban to account — from 7,000 miles away. Even though it operates abroad—or perhaps because it operates abroad—Amu TV is one of the most effective chroniclers of life under Taliban rule. The Atlantic reporter Cora Engelbrecht paid a visit to their newsroom.

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“Why August 15 Haunts Me”

  • Amu TV
  • Siyar Sirat

Siyar Sirat is a journalist with experience in various media organizations in Afghanistan. He has been living in exile for three years. For Amu TV, he wrote down how the day the Taleban took power in Kabul is haunting him.

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“I Have Learned to Never Give Up”

  • Institute of War & Peace Reporting
  • Zahra Nader

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.

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From Afghanistan to Bruchhausen-Vilsen

  • Weser Kurier
  • Ivonne Wolfgramm

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.

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2023 Democracy Award for Afghan Independent Media

  • National Endowment for Democracy
  • Sarah Hutson

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.

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