Taliban Shut Third Shia Media Outlet in Four Months, Press Watchdog Says

The Taliban have closed a third Shia media outlet in four months and arrested a journalist and five media workers, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The committee said the actions revealed a “systematic effort” to stifle media associated with Afghanistan’s Hazara and Shia communities.

The latest closure adds to a series of shutdowns affecting outlets linked to those communities. Three media organisations have now been closed within the four-month period.

Alongside the closures, the arrests highlight the pressure facing journalists and other media employees at the affected outlets. The committee’s assessment points to a targeted campaign against Hazara- and Shia-linked media rather than isolated restrictions.