Afghan Witness

Collecting, preserving and verifying information on human rights and security. Promoting information integrity. Protecting online participation through digital resilience.

Highlights

Media Propaganda

Jul 24

Call(s) to Jihad: An analysis of ISKP audio propaganda

The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) shares a wide range of audio content via social media to influence and connect with its online audience. Here we examine the ISKP's use of sound to shape its messaging and mobilise support.

Propaganda

May 21

‘Media Mujahideen': The visual narratives of ISKP social messaging platforms

Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) uses a wealth of visual material to communicate as a group on social messaging platforms, including stickers, gifs, posters and infographics. This investigation analyses an indicative sample of visual materials shared by the ISKP to identify key narratives in the content, provide explanations of their context, and assess their purposes.

LGBTQ+ Gender-Based Violence Minority Rights

May 2

The impact of the Taliban’s Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice

Known as the PVPV Law - the Taliban's sweeping piece of legislation reinforced existing restrictions on human rights and has introduced new ones that could affect virtually all aspects of Afghans’ lives.

Terrorism

Mar 14

Senior pro-Taliban cleric assassinated in Pakistan

ISKP suspected to be behind killing of Jamia Haqqania’s head, Hamid-ul-Haq.

Human Rights

Mar 14

Taliban withdraw from the ICC’s Rome Statute

Information environment

Mar 14

Taliban-backed Shia conference draws thousands in Kabul

Policies and Restrictions

Mar 14

Taliban allegedly raid underground beauty parlours

Gender-Based Violence Women in Activism, Media, and Politics

Mar 7

Bridging the gap: Using OSINT to report on women and girls in Afghanistan

Latest Articles

See all Articles

Gender-Based Violence Women in Activism, Media, and Politics

Mar 7

Bridging the gap: Using OSINT to report on women and girls in Afghanistan

Journalists face immense challenges reporting on women’s rights inside Afghanistan. But newsrooms and researchers are leveraging open source techniques to investigate topics such as gender-based violence – shining a light on a range of underreported issues.

Taliban

Nov 18

Documenting demolitions: the Taliban’s land clearance campaign and its impact on marginalised communities

Since assuming power in August 2021, the Taliban have initiated a number of infrastructure projects in Kabul. But forced evictions and demolitions have seen ethnic minorities and vulnerable communities bear the brunt.

Policies and Restrictions Women in Activism, Media, and Politics

Sep 12

The power of non-violent resistance

How women of Afghanistan fight the Taliban today

Information environment

Sep 2

Afghanistan’s shrinking information environment

What is the information environment, and what challenges face Afghanistan’s own information space? How can we strengthen it?

The Afghan Witness Map

Verified information is stored in a database and represented on the Afghan Witness Map with one simple goal: to provide the world with timely and reliable information concerning ongoing events in Afghanistan.