Dramatic Decline of Democracy in Afghanistan; Score 0.25 in 2024 and 2025

Afghanistan has seen a dramatic fall in its democracy index, reducing its score from 2.85 in 2020 to 0.25 in 2024 and 2025. This nearly 89% decline is indicative of the dismantling of mechanisms based on public will and the rule of law in the country.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties Status

In its 2026 report, Freedom House ranks Afghanistan as 'not free' with a mere 8 points out of 100. The organization allocated only 1 point out of 40 for political rights and 7 points out of 60 for civil liberties to Afghanistan. Fundamental indicators such as the election of government leaders, the existence of a transparent electoral framework, and the activity of political parties are at their lowest levels.

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After the Taliban regained power, electoral commissions were dissolved in late 2021, and national elections were removed from the agenda. Political party activities were declared banned across the country, and the legal framework for political competition was completely eradicated. While citizens' desire to participate in determining the political fate of the country still exists, the results of a field study show that 91.5% of respondents support elections as a means of selecting the country's leadership.

Consequences of Eliminating Elections and Suppressing Protests

Shahim Ahmadi, a university professor and political science expert, points to the consequences of eliminating elections and emphasizes that "the weaknesses and shortcomings of the republican era should not be equated with the absolute absence of political mechanisms." He believes that the simultaneous elimination of parties and ballot boxes has deprived society of political representation and concentrated power within a closed circle.

Political participation is not limited to voting at the polls. The right to hold peaceful gatherings is also one of the tools for citizens to express their demands and protest government decisions. Over the past five years, the Taliban have suppressed protests and demonstrations, and protesters and civil activists have faced threats, arrests, and violent confrontations.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, declared any form of protest gathering and demonstrations across Afghanistan illegal following the ratification and publication of the 'Sharia Law' in Asad 1405. These restrictions existed even before the approval of this law, and public protests in Herat faced violence.

Security forces, following the suppression of these protests, killed at least one teenager and injured several others. Ahmadi points out the security implications of the public space becoming militarized, stating that "when a citizen cannot protest peacefully, the main channel of dialogue between society and the government is severed."

Decline of Freedom of Expression and Media in Afghanistan

Media are considered pillars of democracy, but reports indicate that freedom of expression in Afghanistan has been severely damaged. The Afghanistan Media Support Organization, 'Nai', has reported over 700 documented cases of violence against journalists during this period. Additionally, at least six journalists have been killed, and around 400 journalists and media staff have been arrested.

This organization has also reported the unemployment of nearly five thousand journalists and the cessation of activities of about 500 media outlets in the past five years. Press freedom in Afghanistan has drastically declined, placing the country at 175 out of 180 countries worldwide. Self-censorship has become an inseparable part of media work, and journalists must calculate the security implications of each report before publication.

Moreover, female journalists and media staff are facing widespread pressures, and many have been sidelined from working in media due to imposed restrictions. Afghanistan has become the only country in the world where education for girls beyond primary level has been officially and systematically banned.

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