Afghan Witness

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

Highlights

Protest Arrest

24th Jun 26

Hijab enforcement, protests, and arrests in Herat, Afghanistan

Afghan Witness has investigated the arrest of women in Herat by Taliban moral enforcement officials in June 2026, analysing the protests and security response that followed, shifts in Taliban messaging, and the spread of AI-generated content that distorted the information environment around the events.

Infrastructure Civilians Airstrike

30th Apr 26

Pakistani attacks in Kunar indicate a renewed conflict escalation

Strikes hit Asadabad, the capital of Afghanistan's Kunar province, on 27 April 2026, damaging a university, residential buildings, and a petrol station and leaving dozens of civilians killed or injured. Afghan Witness verified the damage, geolocated the incidents, and assessed the likely weapons used, amid contested attribution and no official Pakistani acknowledgement.

Online abuse Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence

19th Mar 26

A guide on digital safety for women and girls

‘Digital Safety for Women and Girls’ is a booklet developed by Afghan Witness to provide accessible and practical support in minimising risks online.

Policies and Restrictions

2nd Dec 25

Restrictions on Women’s Rights in Afghanistan: Reported Measures and Timeline (2021–2025)

Since the Taliban’s return in 2021, Afghan women have faced escalating restrictions that limit their mobility, visibility, and access to basic services. This report together recent directives verified by Afghan Witness, as well as a timeline of restrictions since 2021 to show how measures eroding women's rights across Afghanistan have developed.

Media Propaganda

24th Jul 25

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

Propaganda

21st May 25

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

LGBTQ+ Gender-Based Violence Minority Rights

2nd May 25

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

Terrorism

14th Mar 25

Senior pro-Taliban cleric assassinated in Pakistan

Latest Articles

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

7th Mar 25

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

18th Nov 24

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

12th Sep 24

The power of non-violent resistance

How women of Afghanistan fight the Taliban today

Information environment

2nd Sep 24

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.

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How to Use Our Map

The interactive Afghan Witness Map is a powerful tool for visualizing verified human rights abuses and security threats across Afghanistan.

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In the Press

Vrees voor een nieuw bloedbad in Soedan, 500 duizend mensen in levensgevaar

De Volkskrant, 26 June 2026

Canadian sniper rifles openly flaunted in Yemen, Sudan, Libya — despite arms sanctions

CBC, 19 June 2026

'There Will Be No Trace': Russian Payment Agents Tout Sanction-Busting Services on Telegram

OCCRP, 17 June 2026

Israëlisch offensief in Zuid-Libanon dreigt eeuwen aan geschiedenis uit te wissen

De Volkskrant, 13 June 2026

‘Het is een bloedbad van gesloopte huizen’

De Volkskrant, 29 May 2026

Death in Darfur: 3 days of horror caught on camera

Reuters, 20 May 2026

Commander who was filmed killing civilians in Sudan is back in combat, sources say

Reuters, 18 May 2026

Hezbollah drone strike videos show evolving tactics against Israel

BBC Verify, 17 May 2026

Encircled, starved and killed: The siege of Sudan's el-Fasher | Fault Lines Documentary

Al Jazeera English , 15 May 2026

Does Israel rely on criminals in the fight against Hamas?

Süddeutsche Zeitung, 1 May 2026

Sky News investigation reveals Israeli strategy to illegally occupy areas of Lebanon

Sky News, 30 April 2026

Afrique Le réseau de paiement russe A7, outil de contournement des sanctions, gagne du terrain en Afrique

RFI, 13 April 2026

We aim to strengthen the information landscape and provide a reliable source of information for international organisations, policymakers and the media, and to raise awareness of the reality of everyday life for Afghans living in the country.

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Human Stories

Original interviews with Afghans on how their lives have changed since the Taliban takeover

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OSINT 101

An explainer series about OSINT, its techniques, and how these can be applied in real-world investigations, especially in Afghanistan.

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Highlights

Hijab enforcement, protests, and arrests in Herat, Afghanistan

Pakistani attacks in Kunar indicate a renewed conflict escalation

A guide on digital safety for women and girls

Restrictions on Women’s Rights in Afghanistan: Reported Measures and Timeline (2021–2025)

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

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

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

Senior pro-Taliban cleric assassinated in Pakistan

Latest Articles

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

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

The power of non-violent resistance

Afghanistan’s shrinking information environment

The Afghan Witness Map

View the Map

How to Use Our Map

In the Press

Vrees voor een nieuw bloedbad in Soedan, 500 duizend mensen in levensgevaar

Canadian sniper rifles openly flaunted in Yemen, Sudan, Libya — despite arms sanctions

'There Will Be No Trace': Russian Payment Agents Tout Sanction-Busting Services on Telegram

Israëlisch offensief in Zuid-Libanon dreigt eeuwen aan geschiedenis uit te wissen

‘Het is een bloedbad van gesloopte huizen’

Death in Darfur: 3 days of horror caught on camera

Commander who was filmed killing civilians in Sudan is back in combat, sources say

Hezbollah drone strike videos show evolving tactics against Israel

Encircled, starved and killed: The siege of Sudan's el-Fasher | Fault Lines Documentary

Does Israel rely on criminals in the fight against Hamas?

Sky News investigation reveals Israeli strategy to illegally occupy areas of Lebanon

Afrique Le réseau de paiement russe A7, outil de contournement des sanctions, gagne du terrain en Afrique

We aim to strengthen the information landscape and provide a reliable source of information for international organisations, policymakers and the media, and to raise awareness of the reality of everyday life for Afghans living in the country.

Join our mailing list

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