Access to Information; Truth or Rumor?

By: H.N

During the past 20-year, media outlets have made significant progress in Afghanistan. Although the emergence of media in the country happened rapidly, gradually they have turned into an important pillar of the government. In the last 20-year, a considerable number of media outlets, including television channels, radio stations, news agencies, newspapers, and social media networks, commenced their activities.

In order to institutionalize the role and position of the media and the “freedom of expression” in the country, the previous governments placed a specific article in the constitution and enacted numerous laws regulating and promoting media affairs in Afghanistan. This provided a conducive environment for media to engage in broadcasting and disseminating reports on socio-economic, security, political, and other related issues.

During this period, many media outlets and media actors, using the principle of “freedom of expression,” pursued personal and commercial interests, leading to undesirable activities in some media outlets. Media, by designing and promoting various programs, not only criticized the performance of the previous governments severely but also played a key role in undermining public opinion and character assassination, creating a climate of distrust between the governments and the people.

While some media activities were constructive, however, most of the time, their negative consequences seemed to outweigh the positive ones. During the past twenty years, the increasing focus of the media on reflecting security events led to Afghanistan being introduced as an insecure country to the world, causing fear and terror among people within the country and beyond the borders. On the other hand, the increased attention to the negative aspects of the governments at the time led donors and key partners to become skeptical about governance in Afghanistan and reconsider their assistance to the country.

During this period, the persistence of undesirable programs by some media outlets in Afghanistan not only spread strange customs and practices among the people but also played a fundamental role in distorting public minds, promoting obsolete religions, and increasing the level of obscenity and various crimes.

In addition, during the past 20-year, considering the performance of the media, many countries and organizations produced and aired documentaries, films, and various stories, which resulted in introducing a harsh and repulsive image of Afghanistan to the world.

In short, during the past two decades, alongside enlightening the public about security, political, socio-economic events in the country, the media played a key role in destroying and distorting public minds.

With the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, media outlets initially faced challenges. They, in line with the existing policy and enacted laws of the previous governments, engaged in publications which in some cases their publications did not comply with Islamic principles and Afghan preferred customs, which led to some journalists being improperly treated or prevented from publishing and or broadcasting undesirable programs. On the other hand, some media outlets, funded by certain organizations and parties, were shut down due to economic recession, and their employees were forced to resign. Some journalists and media actors, taking advantage of the opportunity and with a grim view of the prevailing situation in the country, tried to seek resettlement in the USA, European and regional countries.

The oppositions considered this opportunity favorable and engaged in negative propaganda against the system, claiming that media activities in Afghanistan had faced difficulties with the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate. However, the main reason for the closure of some media outlets in the country was the cessation of funding.

The Islamic Emirate, made efforts to coordinate with the media in various fields and reassured them through numerous meetings that their activities should continue in line with the Islamic principles and the preferred customs of the country.

In the second step, to facilitate journalists’ access to information, spokespersons were appointed in all government entities, and to enhance interaction and cooperation between government agencies and the media, workshops were organized for the newly appointed spokespersons in professional and vocational centers.

In the third step, strengthening the flow of information became a priority for the Islamic Emirate. The process of organizing press conferences, exclusive interviews, and publishing news clips, and reports increased day by day, which played a key role in disseminating information that helped media resume their activities same as before.

In the fourth step, to better regulate and organize media activities in the country, work began on modifying and amending some provisions of the laws, and a draft media law was sent to the leadership office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Despite these efforts, some media outlets, individuals, and groups are still trying to expedite a propaganda war against the ruling system in the country. They attempt to portray the media situation in the country as dire and often raise their voices through various channels regarding journalists’ lack of access to information.

The question arises: If journalists’ access to information is limited in Afghanistan, where do the media get so much publishing content from?

Off course, in some cases, officials may not provide information to the media for various reasons, but in most cases, information is provided to the media unconditionally, and they organize, produce, and air news and content based on the available information.

Officials of the Islamic Emirate often emphasize the continuation of media activities within the framework of Islamic principles in both formal and informal meetings and strive to improve and strengthen media activities in the country every day.

Therefore, except for some cases, journalists’ access to information in Afghanistan is not limited, and the ruling system in the country is determined to strengthen this process further and create favorable opportunities so that, on the one hand, journalists’ need for information is met, and on the other hand, real information is shared with the people through media outlets.