Committee to Protect Journalists calls for Taliban invitation to Brussels to be revoked

Yasamin Tue May 2026 4 months ago 618

Tom Gibson, deputy director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said on Monday, May 18, that the Taliban invitation is taking place at a time when the group continues to pressure independent media and suppress journalists. He described the move as "shameful" and "unfair," adding that such contacts strengthen the Taliban's position on the international stage.


The media freedom advocacy organization stated that since returning to power, the Taliban have shut down many independent media outlets, arrested a number of journalists, and imposed an intense atmosphere of censorship and surveillance on domestic media.


The Committee to Protect Journalists also said that journalists in Afghanistan are currently working under pressure, threats, and fear, and a large portion of the content in domestic media has been limited to reflecting Taliban propaganda.


According to reports, the European Commission intends to invite a Taliban delegation to Brussels for talks on repatriating Afghan refugees. However, European officials have emphasized that these contacts do not mean recognition of the Taliban regime.


A spokesperson for the European Commission announced on Tuesday that Brussels has sent a letter to Kabul to coordinate the timing of the meeting. He added that these communications are taking place only at a technical level and that no senior Taliban members will be part of this delegation.


The European Union has not recognized the Taliban government to date and has made any formal engagement with the group conditional on respect for human rights and international standards. Nevertheless, the issue of repatriating Afghan refugees is one that European countries pursue separately from the recognition debate—an approach that has also faced criticism from human rights organizations.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has asked the European Commission to cancel its decision to invite a Taliban delegation to Brussels. The organization warned that such an action could lead to legitimizing a group that, according to it, is responsible for suppressing freedom of expression and restricting media in Afghanistan.

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