The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the European Commission to cancel its reported plan to invite a Taliban delegation to Brussels.
Tom Gibson, deputy advocacy director at CPJ, described the invitation as “shameful” and warned that it would legitimize a group responsible for suppressing media freedom and imposing widespread censorship in Afghanistan.
Speaking on Monday, Gibson said that formally hosting Taliban representatives while the group continues restricting free expression and press activity would be a “cruel” move.
The Committee to Protect Journalists stated that since returning to power, the Taliban have shut down independent media outlets, detained journalists, and imposed a climate of heavy censorship and surveillance across Afghanistan’s media sector.
The organization added that many Afghan journalists now operate under fear and intimidation, while large parts of domestic media coverage have effectively turned into propaganda for the Taliban.
According to reports, the European Commission is planning to invite Taliban representatives to Brussels for discussions related to the return of rejected Afghan asylum seekers.
However, EU officials have said the invitation would not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban government.
The issue has triggered strong reactions from human rights organizations and press freedom advocates.
Analysts say European governments are increasingly caught between migration concerns and mounting criticism over the Taliban’s human rights record and restrictions on independent media.
Experts warn that official engagement with the Taliban without meaningful pressure on human rights and media freedom could strengthen the group’s international standing while further weakening Afghanistan’s independent press.
