Afghanistan: Taliban Bans Washington Post’s Susannah George from Afghanistan

Location: Afghanistan, Kabul
Date: April 20, 2023

Foreign correspondent Susannah George banned from Afghanistan. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands the Taliban retracts its decision and allow press to work freely.

On April 20, The Washington Post announced the Taliban would not permit its Afghanistan bureau chief Susannah George to report from the country. The news outlet has objected to the decision.

“We believe that Susannah has been unjustly banned,” wrote the paper’s editor Sally Buzbee.

For several months, The Washington Post tried to reverse the decision but “Afghan authorities have indicated that the action is final,” it said.

George last reported from Afghanistan in November 2021. According to reporting by CPJ, George's visa and accreditation were not renewed by the Taliban authorities after expiring a few months prior.

George’s reporting from Afghanistan, especially during the 2021 Taliban takeover, has been vital for international audiences. 

The Washington Post says it will re-assign George and appoint a new bureau chief “in the expectation that the Afghan authorities will honor a commitment to allow Post journalists to report from inside Afghanistan.”

Women Journalists Targeted

Since George’s last reporting trip, Afghan authorities have allowed other journalists from the newspaper to report from the country. However, barring a seasoned reporter from doing her job is yet another malicious assault on women journalists by the Taliban regime. 

Afghan authorities have previously targeted foreign correspondents for their work. 

In October 2022, freelance journalist Stefanie Glinski was denied re-entry into the country.

Australian correspondent Lynne O’Donnell was detained by Afghan authorities and forced to tweet an apology for her reporting last summer.

Meanwhile, The Coalition For Women In Journalism continues to evacuate and support women journalists in Afghanistan who are threatened by authorities.

We demand Taliban authorities stop restricting press freedom and allow Susannah George to return to the country to report.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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