7,000 media workers fled Afghanistan after Taliban takeover, says former Afghan official

Since Taliban government ousted former President Ashraf Ghani and took charge of country, conditions of media personnel h become grave, reported ANI quoting a former Afghan government official. While speaking in a webinar organised by one of India's prestigious universities Jamia Millia Islamia, former Deputy Minister of Coordination, Strategy and Policy in Afghanistan's State Ministry for Peace, Abdullah Khenjani, said that media organisation in Afghanistan is working freely after collapse of government. He ded that current Taliban government has throttled voices of journalists who are critical of policies implemented by m.

Pointing to brain drain, he said nearly 7,000 journalists and media workers including, most prominent and leing journalists have left country and has taken asylum in some or country. " sudden and brutal takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban terrorists on August 15 has forced Afghanistan to be one of terror hubs and victims of most severe violations of human rights in world," re a press statement released following webinar. But in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, this identity has been left in a chaotic order, ded statement.

'Taliban is t enthusiastic to listen to any criticism'

According to Khenjani, those achievements gained in last 20 years were lost after Taliban dramatic takeover. Furr, he pointed that Afghanistan does t have strong Opposition parties and ded media in country played a crucial role in criticising government. However, with takeover of Taliban, role of media was hampered bly. He furr stated that Taliban is t enthusiastic to listen to any criticism from media or even independent commentators. " media could report on corruption, mismanment, lack of capacity of government or Taliban's behaviour towards people," said Khenjani.         

" media in Kabul has stopped brocasting and publishing. Taliban ordered m to get work permission from m and n only media could restart working and under new working permission if a journalist in a particular province wants to brocast or publish a report y should send it to Directorate of Taliban thus re is visible censorship of media and journalists by Taliban," re press statement released on Sunday.

'70% of media outlets in Afghanistan have stopped working'

According to data of National Association of Journalists, more than 70% of media outlets in Afghanistan have eir stopped working or cut down on manpower after facing a financial crisis. "40% of Afghan journalists are worried about ir safety in Afghanistan and rest of m are living a difficult life as y have lost ir jobs," said Masroor Lutfi, he of national association of journalists.

Earlier in September,  International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) on September 3 urged SAARC national governments and international communities to provide a safe haven to Afghan journalists seeking help. According to international scribe federation, situation for media workers on ground was 'extremely challenging'.

With inputs from ANI

Im: AP