Taliban Imposed Significant Restrictions on Media Support Organisation, Says AFJC

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) called the suspension of "Nai", an organisation supporting open media in Afghanistan, as a “significant loss" for the Afghan media community.

AFJC reported that the Taliban had implemented significant restrictions affecting the organisation’s ability to carry out its work.

Nai had announced that it has temporarily stopped its activities in Afghanistan.

Ahmad Quraishi, director of the AFJC, said that NAI has a long history of supporting journalists and promoting free media in Afghanistan.

“We look forward to the swift resumption of Nai's vital work and trust that the necessary conditions will be established to allow this organisation, alongside other entities working towards the same goal, to continue supporting journalists and fostering a free media in Afghanistan,” said Quraishi.

AFJC reported that over the past 18 years, Nai has collaborated with the backing of various international institutions to aid journalists and promote free media. Their efforts have particularly been focused on training journalists and providing legal assistance to the media community.

It added that the senior officials of this organisation were forced to leave Afghanistan following the takeover of the Taliban.

On January 25, Mujeeb Khelwatgar, executive director of Nai announced the temporary suspension of organisation, saying that once the conditions of the institution improve, it can resume its activities in the future.

He mentioned that he will provide further details regarding the reasons for the temporary suspension of Nai's activities at a later time.