Event Extra: Afghanistan's Media Landscape Amid Taliban Rule

One of Afghanistan's biggest achievements following the toppling of the Taliban in 2001 was the vast expansion of freedom of expression and the emergence of a vibrant free press. But just as we have seen a significant rollback of women’s rights – another key achievement in the 2001-2021 period – the Taliban's August 2021 takeover has been followed by severe repression of the media. 

Ayesha Tanzeem, the director of Voice of America's South and Central Asia Division, explains how Afghanistan's media landscape has changed in the last year and a half, how media organizations are fighting back and what the international community can do to help protect media freedom in Afghanistan.