ORF: In the past two and a half years, rapid clampdown on independent institutions like media and free speech has debunked the sham of a ‘reformed Taliban’. Estimates suggest over 450 documented cases of media violations by the Islamic Emirate since its takeover. This includes the murders of three journalists, 219 detentions, and a staggering 235 incidents of threats and physical violence. As a result, about 53 percent of journalists have lost their jobs. Self-censorship has skyrocketed as fear and repression take hold. Safety and working conditions for journalists, particularly women, have become perilous. The Taliban’s iron fist controls the dissemination of information, meticulously crafting a narrative that silences dissent and paints a rosy picture of their rule. Click here to read more (external link).