The Afghan Conference in Berlin, officially convened as the 3rd Annual Global Summit on Afghanistan’s Press Freedom, concluded recently with a powerful call to action for the global community. Held on November 21, 2025, in the German capital, this significant gathering was organized by the Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) and brought together a wide array of journalists, human rights defenders, and international diplomats. The event served as a crucial platform to address the deteriorating state of free speech under the Taliban regime and the precarious situation of Afghan media professionals living in exile.
Key Outcomes of the Afghan Conference in Berlin
Participants at the Afghan Conference in Berlin engaged in rigorous debates regarding the systematic erasure of independent journalism in their homeland. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, delivered a keynote address that underscored the severity of the crisis. He noted that the suppression of the press is not merely a policy of censorship but a calculated attempt to erase the collective memory and identity of the Afghan people. Bennett’s remarks at the Afghan Conference in Berlin highlighted how the “hybrid media” model, where information is gathered inside the country and published from abroad, has become the last line of defense for truth.
A major focus of the Afghan Conference in Berlin was the plight of women journalists who face a dual threat of gender-based persecution and professional silencing. Speakers detailed how female reporters are being systematically excluded from public life, with severe restrictions on their movement and appearance. The Afghan Conference in Berlin provided a rare and safe space for these women to share their harrowing testimonies and demand that the international community recognize “gender apartheid” as a crime against humanity. The emotional weight of these stories served as a stark reminder of the human cost of political inaction.
Discussion at the Afghan Conference in Berlin also turned to the practical and logistical nightmares facing journalists in exile. Hamid Obaidi, the head of AMSO, presented alarming statistics indicating that nearly 80 percent of independent media outlets in Afghanistan have shut down since 2021. For those who have fled to countries like Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey, the situation is equally dire due to delayed visas and the constant threat of deportation. The Afghan Conference in Berlin emphasised that without immediate financial and legal support from Western nations, the remaining exiled media outlets risk collapsing entirely, leaving the world blind to the realities on the ground.
Ultimately, the Afghan Conference in Berlin was more than just a series of panel discussions; it was an act of resistance. By formulating new ethical codes and strengthening networks between diaspora journalists and those still inside the country, the attendees laid the groundwork for a more resilient media landscape.
The consensus emerging from the Afghan Conference in Berlin was clear: the fight for a free press is inextricably linked to the broader struggle for human rights in Afghanistan, and sustaining this voice requires long-term, structural commitment from global democracies.
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