Human Rights | Reporters Without Borders named Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada among its 33 press freedom predators of 2026, citing relentless censorship in Afghanistan

ACW | November 2, 2026 — Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Monday, November 2, 2026, named Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada on its 2026 list of press freedom predators, released on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

The list profiles 33 people and entities. Akhundzada appears under Afghanistan in the political category, headed "They muzzle information in their country." US President Donald Trump, who narrowly missed the cut last year, joined the list this year, RSF said.

Under Akhundzada, "Afghan journalism is throttled by relentless censorship," RSF says in its profile of him. The group quotes him as saying in June 2025: "Today, the media are in the people's pocket and they lie."

Rabab Fatima, the UN Secretary-General's special representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said on the same day that journalists' work is essential to dialogue, peace and good governance, Hasht-e Subh and Afghanistan International reported. She said the safety of journalists who devote their lives to seeking the truth must be a priority in Afghanistan and worldwide. ACW has not seen UNAMA's original message.

No response from the Taliban to the list appeared in published reports.

Background: The Taliban have banned images of living beings under their law on the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, according to RSF. The group says eight journalists were detained in Afghanistan in 2025, Radio Begum was shut down and forced-confession videos of journalists were broadcast for the first time.

Why it matters: More than 165 media workers have been arrested in Afghanistan since August 2021, and the country ranked 175th of 180 in RSF's 2025 World Press Freedom Index, according to RSF.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: RSF — 2026 Press Freedom Predators List; RSF — Political predators profile page; Hasht-e Subh — Rabab Fatima on journalists' safety; Afghanistan International — Rabab Fatima's remarks

Photo: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)