Exodus of Afghan journalists accelerates under Taliban rule

According to data released by Reporters Without Borders, at least 677 Afghan journalists have left the country and sought refuge in 28 different nations since 2021, when the Taliban

Press freedom in Afghanistan has come under severe strain since the return of Taliban rule, with a growing number of journalists forced to flee the country amid rising pressure, restrictions, and security threats.

According to data released by Reporters Without Borders, at least 677 Afghan journalists have left the country and sought refuge in 28 different nations since 2021, when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The organization reports that the trend of forced exile has remained persistent, with 183 journalists leaving in 2022 and another 82 departing in 2025 alone.

The watchdog warns that journalists inside Afghanistan are increasingly left with limited options—either abandon their profession, face imprisonment, or escape into exile. It also notes that at least five journalists are currently being held in Taliban custody.

RSF’s South Asia desk representative, Célia Mercier, has described the media environment in Afghanistan as one marked by systematic pressure, strict controls, and expanding restrictions imposed by authorities, making independent reporting increasingly difficult.

Observers say the situation reflects a broader collapse of press freedom in the country, where journalists attempting to report on facts and realities are often forced to pay the price through silence, detention, or displacement abroad.