Note: This article is written in response to certain concerns currently circulating within the Afghan journalist community in exile. The debate centers on how Afghan exiled media should approach the phenomenon of the Taliban and whether they can become engines of social change, expand awareness, and mobilize resistance against the current situation in Afghanistan. I call this approach liberatory journalism. Alternatively, some senior managers of Afghan exiled media—whose names I will not mention for ethical reasons—argue that media should not lean towards social activism to preserve the fundamental principle of neutrality. They believe that activism undermines the media’s credibility and reduces audience trust. This article addresses these concerns and emphasizes the need to expand liberatory journalism to foster hope, delegitimize the Taliban and other violent groups, and outline a clear path for Afghanistan’s transition from its current state.
Media, as the fourth pillar of democracy, plays an unparalleled role in promoting transparency, accountability, and oversight of power. However, in societies facing profound political, social, and cultural crises, this role becomes even more vital. In such contexts, media must transcend mere reporting and become instruments for liberation from oppression, inequality, and tyranny.
Afghanistan today is enduring one of the darkest and most challenging periods in its history under the oppressive and primitive rule of the Taliban. This regime, which lacks any domestic legitimacy or acceptance, has seized power by force and effectively suspended the constitution. In its place, the Taliban have imposed a repressive, violent, and irresponsible system that systematically violates the most basic human rights.
Half of Afghanistan’s population—its women—have been broadly stripped of the right to education, work, and freedom. Simultaneously, the Taliban are using oppressive policies, ideological propaganda, widespread Madrasa-building efforts, and curriculum changes to rapidly transform Afghan society into a more radical, violent, and jihadist entity.
In such an environment, hope for the future has completely evaporated. Daily reports reveal that the majority of ordinary Afghans are desperately trying to leave the country in masse to preserve their lives, dignity, and security. This unprecedented wave of migration underscores the catastrophic conditions the Taliban have imposed on the nation.
In these circumstances, Afghan media—particularly those operating in exile—must effectively and fundamentally fulfill their role as forces standing against the Taliban’s malevolence and the future the group envisions for Afghanistan. Exiled media can not only serve as a voice for the victims of the Taliban’s atrocities but also act as platforms to support Afghanistan’s democratic and civil forces.
Unfortunately, some senior managers of exiled media sometimes argue for distinguishing between independent, impartial journalism and advocacy-based activism. They contend that media should not become a platform for activism.
While this argument may be debatable in normal media contexts or democratic countries, it is insufficient and even dangerous in Afghanistan’s current situation. The Taliban are not only driving Afghan society towards total collapse but are also transforming the country into a massive training ground for jihadists and suicide bombers, posing a serious threat to regional and global peace and security. Under such conditions, separating impartial journalism from conscious activism is a luxury that does not align with Afghanistan’s grim realities.
For these reasons, I propose that exiled Afghan media adopt a different approach, which I call liberatory journalism. At the Hasht-e Subh Daily, we largely adhere to this approach. Below, I outline the key elements of this type of journalism:
Liberatory Journalism: A Progressive Response to Oppression
Liberatory journalism is committed to truth, exposing injustices, and supporting marginalized, victimized, and at-risk groups. This media approach can act as a progressive force for Afghan journalism, which operates under the Taliban’s oppressive constraints, to uphold democratic values and human rights.
Afghanistan is engulfed in violence and extreme suppression of freedom of expression, needs media that go beyond the Taliban’s distorted narratives to amplify the voices of the regime’s victims to the world. By adopting liberatory journalism, Afghan exiled media can effectively contribute to democracy, social justice, and the protection of human rights.
1) Commitment to Truth: Exposing Reality Against Ideological Propaganda
The cornerstone of liberatory journalism is a commitment to truth. In Afghanistan, the truth is often buried under thick layers of censorship, ideological propaganda, political and ethnic biases, and disinformation. On one hand, the Taliban tightly control domestic media, using them to justify their ideology and eliminate reality-based narratives. On the other hand, they extensively exploit social media to mislead public opinion, projecting themselves as a “responsible administration” working to improve the country—a far cry from reality.
The Taliban maintain their illegitimate rule in Afghanistan through repression, fear, imprisonment, torture, murder, and humiliation. Numerous documented cases show individuals being arrested, tortured, and even killed for expressing their opinions on social media. Such incidents number in the thousands.
According to a UNAMA report, from August 15, 2021, to September 30, 2024, 336 journalists and media workers in Afghanistan have been mistreated, arrested, and subjected to abuse, humiliation, beatings, and even torture by the Taliban.
This raises an important question: How can a commitment to truth be achieved?
Documenting Crimes: The Role of Media in Exposing Violence
The media must document and publish incidents of violence, including targeted killings, enforced disappearances, and torture. This responsibility goes beyond presenting statistics or victim counts. Instead, efforts should be made to identify the victims, conduct interviews with them or their close ones, and provide a comprehensive narrative. Each victim is not just a legal entity; they are someone’s child, spouse, sibling, parent, or friend. Many may be the sole breadwinners of their families, newly married, or caught in unique circumstances that demand attention beyond their status as victims. Humanizing their stories, documenting their realities, and amplifying their voices is crucial.
Afghan exiled media and journalists face the challenge of countering the Taliban’s propaganda, which often accuses victims of rebellion, collusion with ISIS, espionage, or opposing their regime. Investigative and independent reporting that contradicts the Taliban’s narratives can serve as a powerful tool to counter ideological distortions.
Establishing connections with impartial, independent domestic sources—while protecting their identities—and utilizing citizen journalism can provide firsthand information, albeit with risks for those involved. Historical precedents, such as the approach of Chilean media during Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship in the 1970s, offer valuable lessons.
During Pinochet’s regime in Chile, systematic human rights violations—including censorship, mass arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings—stifled dissent. However, courageous journalists and independent outlets like El Mercurio and La Nación exposed these atrocities, documenting executions, organized torture, and disappearances. Despite threats, arrests, and even the murder of some journalists, these efforts were instrumental in resisting oppression.
The Importance of This Approach for Afghan Media
Systematic Exposure of Crimes: Just as journalists in Chile awakened public consciousness by systematically exposing the precise details of crimes committed by the Pinochet regime, Afghan media can also document and report on the Taliban’s atrocities, such as summary executions, the suppression of women and minorities, and other inhumane actions in a precise and evidence-based manner.
Engaging with the Global Community: Chilean journalists gained global support against the Pinochet regime by translating and disseminating their reports through international media outlets. Similarly, exiled Afghan media can utilize international networks to amplify the voices of the people of Afghanistan worldwide and increase global pressure on the Taliban.
Fostering Hope and Internal Resistance: The exposure of Pinochet regime crimes encouraged Chilean citizens to become more courageous in their resistance and protests. Likewise, Afghanistan’s free media can inspire hope and motivation for change within the country by highlighting acts of civil resistance and sharing victims’ narratives.
In the case of the Pinochet regime, precise and well-documented reports from journalists led to the adoption of United Nations resolutions condemning human rights violations in Chile. Furthermore, media revelations paved the way for international human rights movements, ultimately weakening the regime.
Afghan media can draw from this experience by documenting Taliban crimes and publishing credible reports. Collaborating with international media to increase global awareness and mobilize global support to exert pressure on the Taliban. Promoting hope and awareness to inspire change within Afghanistan.
This historical precedent underscores that truth-based journalism can serve as a powerful tool for resisting dictatorship and oppression, creating meaningful change both nationally and internationally.
2) Strengthening Critical Awareness: Cultivating Analytical Minds
Liberatory journalism does not merely expose the truth; it strives to foster critical awareness among its audience. This awareness pushes individuals beyond passive acceptance of information, compelling them to analyze and evaluate the data presented to them.
In a context where the Taliban attempt to legitimize their actions through superficial, distorted, false, and diversionary narratives, critical awareness can challenge these behaviors and narratives. Moreover, understanding the social, political, cultural, and economic consequences of Taliban policies encourages audiences to resist and participate in civic actions.
A valuable and impactful example in this regard is the experience of South Africa during the apartheid era.
From 1948 to 1994, South Africa was under an organized system of racism that violated the fundamental rights of the Black majority through repressive and discriminatory laws. During this period, the media played a vital role in raising awareness and fighting this injustice. Among them, The Weekly Mail (now known as Mail & Guardian) had a prominent role in exposing apartheid policies and encouraging civil resistance.
The Role of “The Weekly Mail” in Combating Apartheid
A) Analyzing Racist Policies:
The newspaper published in-depth investigative reports that exposed apartheid policies, including racial segregation, economic and social deprivation of Black South Africans, and the suppression of protestors. Rather than merely reporting superficial or daily events, it analyzed the long-term consequences of these policies on society. It showed how the racist system deprived the majority of their human rights and equal opportunities and explained how apartheid policies could, in the long term, undermine the social and cultural foundations of South Africa, potentially leading the country toward an irreversible and uncontrollable state.
Similarly, the Taliban today, through gender apartheid policies, systematically organized crimes, and ethnoreligious policies, sow widespread seeds of hatred and vengeance within Afghan society. While the current consequences may appear as reactions in virtual spaces or silence and isolation, it is not far-fetched to envision these leading to future manifestations of violence and division, perpetuating the cycle of conflict and complete societal and cultural disintegration in Afghanistan.
For this reason, it is crucial to systematically and methodically document the Taliban’s crimes and report them through liberation-oriented journalism. Such reports should not only raise awareness about the dangers and damages of these policies but also prepare Afghan society to adopt strategies for reconciliation, coexistence, and preserving the physical and psychological security of all its residents in the post-Taliban era.
B) Focusing on Victims’ Narratives:
During apartheid in South Africa, The Weekly Mail played a critical role in exposing the regime’s inhuman policies and motivating resistance by highlighting the personal narratives of its victims. The newspaper portrayed the lived experiences of workers, women, and human rights activists, illustrating the tangible and real effects of apartheid policies.
For instance, workers who were deprived of equal employment opportunities due to racial segregation shared stories of their daily struggles. Women provided accounts of being denied basic human rights and living in social insecurity. Human rights activists narrated the threats, arrests, and torture they endured while fighting for justice.
These stories directly presented the lives of apartheid victims, helping readers understand the painful human impact of the system. However, The Weekly Mail’s goal extended beyond revealing the truth. It aimed to inspire its audience to move beyond passivity and join the civil resistance.
With this approach, The Weekly Mail became a powerful tool for raising awareness, fostering empathy, and inspiring social change. The human stories published in this newspaper not only highlighted structural inequalities but also indirectly encouraged readers to stand against injustice and join grassroots movements.
This experience demonstrates that by focusing on human stories, media can transcend the mere transmission of information and evolve into a driving force for change and social mobilization.
C) Cultivating Critical Awareness
The Weekly Mail functioned as more than just a simple news outlet. Beyond reporting on the racist events and policies of the apartheid regime, it aimed to provoke deeper questioning and analysis among its audience regarding the system and its consequences.
By using data, documented reports, and analytical articles, the publication helped its audience move beyond surface-level information to understand the complex structure and destructive impacts of apartheid. The Weekly Mail elucidated how this racist system infiltrated every aspect of people’s lives, from housing and education to healthcare and the economy, creating deep-seated inequalities.
Focusing on the long-term effects of apartheid, the newspaper demonstrated that the problems stemming from such policies were not confined to the present but also posed a threat to future generations. Articles published in the paper provided meticulous analyses of apartheid policies and offered practical solutions, creating a framework for social change.
For instance, the Weekly Mail revealed how racial segregation in the education system severely restricted and manipulated the future of Black children, resulting in profound social and economic gaps. Additionally, comparing apartheid’s conditions with experiences in other countries, inspired people to believe that change was possible and that efforts toward a more just society were worthwhile.
The experience of the Weekly Mail underscores that media can act as intellectual and social catalysts, motivating people to shift from passivity to active participation in social and political transformation.
Exiled Afghan media have an even greater responsibility in this regard. By offering precise analyses and encouraging critical thinking, they can play a similar role. The Weekly Mail’s experience reminds us that the media’s power lies not merely in reporting news and daily events but in its ability to transform perspectives and mobilize people to build a better future.
D) Encouraging Civil Movements
The Weekly Mail was one of the few media outlets during the dark days of apartheid that went beyond raising awareness to become a driving force and supporter of civil movements. By focusing on covering peaceful protests, civil rights movements, and labor union activities, it played a pivotal role in motivating and uniting opponents of the apartheid regime.
Through detailed and extensive reporting on demonstrations and peaceful gatherings, the paper conveyed the message that nonviolent resistance was an effective tool for countering oppression. It particularly emphasized the roles of women, youth, and students in these protests, striving to widely portray their efforts.
The Weekly Mail’s coverage of general strikes and peaceful assemblies transformed these protests from local movements into national campaigns, inspiring other citizens to join the resistance.
For instance, the Weekly Mail highlighted the activities of groups such as the African National Congress (ANC) and other civil rights organizations, helping to amplify their goals and achievements. The newspaper sought to explain the positive outcomes of these groups’ activities, articulate their objectives in simple and accessible language for readers, and most importantly, garner broader public support for these movements.
This media support significantly enhanced the legitimacy and expansion of civil movements among various segments of society.
The Weekly Mail experience illustrates that media can support civil movements and reflect grassroots efforts, becoming a powerful tool for widespread social and political transformation. For Afghanistan, media outlets can assist in resisting tyranny and eradicating the oppressive Taliban regime by covering peaceful protests, human rights activities, and civil organizations.
3) Advocating for Social Justice: Media as the Voice of the Marginalized
Media plays a critical role in supporting social justice, especially in societies where vulnerable groups are marginalized or entirely excluded from the public sphere. Liberatory Journalism must amplify the voices of those who lack the opportunity to share their experiences in the face of systemic oppression and inequality.
In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, groups such as women, children, religious and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, human rights activists, and journalists are among the most vulnerable. Deprived of their fundamental human rights, they require media that can project their voices to the world.
Afghan media must document the experiences of these individuals and extensively cover the violence, deprivation, and oppression inflicted on them, both individually and collectively. For instance, Afghan women are denied education, employment, and social participation. Media can highlight their plight by presenting personal stories of women living under Taliban pressure to the global audience. Religious and ethnic minorities, such as the Hazara and Sikh communities, face severe discrimination and even genocide risks, and documenting their fate could garner greater international sympathy and support. Similarly, LGBTQ+ individuals, already targeted in Afghanistan’s deeply conservative society, face intensified threats under Taliban rule. Media must draw attention to these injustices by amplifying their stories.
Publishing investigative reports and accurate documentation at the international level can raise global awareness about the plight of victims in Afghanistan. This awareness could lead to increased diplomatic pressure on the Taliban and financial and humanitarian aid from international human rights organizations. Historical successes, such as during apartheid in South Africa, have shown that international media can play a significant role in rallying global support for change by amplifying the voices of victims.
Moreover, the media can spotlight the efforts of democratic and civil forces. While the Taliban seek to present themselves as Afghanistan’s legitimate representatives, the media must introduce the world to genuine democratic and civil representatives. Reporting on the activities and achievements of civil groups advocating for human rights and freedom can bolster public trust and encourage greater resistance against Taliban propaganda. Highlighting democratic and civil efforts in Afghanistan can also instill hope among the Afghan population, strengthening their resolve to resist Taliban rule.
A historical example of the impact of such an approach is the role of the media during Franco’s dictatorship in Spain. At that time, the media focused on the oppression of the Basque minorities, successfully garnering international support to change the situation. Precise reports on the discrimination and deprivations faced by these minorities increased diplomatic pressure on Franco’s government, ultimately leading to gradual changes in the regime’s policies.
Afghanistan’s media must draw inspiration from these experiences by reflecting on the stories of victims, documenting deprivations, and mobilizing global support, thereby fulfilling their role as instruments of social justice. Along this path, they should strive not only to expose injustices but also to instill and sustain hope and motivation for change. Such an approach is crucial not only for social justice but also for a brighter and more humane future in Afghanistan.
4) Historical Examples of Media Boycotting Violent Groups
Imposing a media blackout on violent groups is one of the methods that can prevent legitimizing them and play a vital role in reducing their influence in society. The experience of democratic countries has shown that this approach can have positive impacts, weakening violent groups and strengthening peaceful processes.
During the conflict between Britain and the Irish Republican Army (IRA), media outlets decided to withhold platforms from the IRA. This group, which resorted to violence for the independence of Northern Ireland, used bombings and targeted killings as its primary tools. However, depriving them of media exposure significantly reduced their influence and redirected public attention toward the victims of the violence perpetrated by the group. This approach ultimately strengthened peace efforts, leading to the historic Belfast Agreement in 1998.
The Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, was signed in 1998 between the British government, the Republic of Ireland, and the major parties in Northern Ireland. It ended decades of violence between Catholic nationalists and Protestant unionists, establishing a framework for political cooperation and lasting peace.
In Spain, a similar approach was taken toward the ETA group, which pursued violence for the independence of the Basque region. Media outlets boycotted ETA by refusing to publish its propaganda and instead focused on the harm the group’s violence inflicted on Spanish society. This action diminished ETA’s legitimacy, contributing to the end of its armed activities in 2011.
In France, separatist groups in Corsica that turned to violence also lacked media support. French media avoided broadcasting the messages of these groups, concentrating instead on the adverse effects of violence on society. This created a space for dialogue and peaceful resolution of issues.
The media blackout of violent groups or those using violence as a tool for political goals demonstrated that media could play a crucial role in delegitimizing such entities while drawing public attention to the human and social consequences of their actions. These experiences offer significant lessons for Afghanistan’s media.
Afghanistan’s free media can adopt a similar approach to prevent legitimizing the Taliban. Instead, they can highlight the narratives of victims and democratic forces, striving to create a hopeful narrative focused on freedom and democracy for the Afghan people.
What I call Liberatory Journalism should not merely focus on crises and challenges; it must also portray avenues of change and resistance. Narrating the successes of grassroots movements and stories of civil resistance can be inspiring, strengthening hope for the future. A notable example in this regard is the Tunisian Revolution. During this revolution, the media extensively covered peaceful protests and success stories from democratic efforts, significantly boosting the popular movement. These efforts not only influenced domestic public opinion but also garnered global attention, supporting the democratic process in Tunisia.
The experiences of various countries show that with a responsible and intelligent approach, media can not only help reduce the influence of violent groups but also foster the motivation and hope necessary for societal change. In Afghanistan, by focusing on the voices of victims, civil forces, and resistance narratives, the media can play a significant role in driving sustainable change.
Conclusion
Liberatory Journalism is a powerful tool to confront oppression, suppression, and violence. Afghanistan’s free media, by focusing on truth, enhancing critical awareness, and utilizing modern technologies, can contribute to the realization of a free and just society. They should amplify the narratives of victims and work to alert the world to the dangers posed by the Taliban. Such an approach will not only benefit Afghanistan but also serve as a valuable model for other crisis-ridden societies.
You can read the Persian version of this article here:
ژورنالیسم رهاییبخش؛ ابزاری برای خلق امید، آزادی و عدالت اجتماعی
