AFJC calls for the release of three journalists held in Baghalan

 

April 5, 2023

Pul-e-Khumri, Baghlan province- Afghanistan Journalists Center(AFJC) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of three journalists detained by the Directorate of Intelligence(GDI) in the Baghlan province today.

A journalist from Pul-e-Khumri city in the northeast Baghlan province who asked to remain anonymous due to security concerns, said:” Ghulam Ali Wahdat a reporter for Tanwir TV and Sayed NoorAgha Sa’dat, reporter, and Safiullah Safa a cameraman of Radio Television Afghanistan(RTA) was summoned by the General Directorate of Intelligence(GDI) and detained about 9 am today.” “They were being questioned by the GDI officers regarding a report on the Taliban security measures at the checkpoints outside of the city that was published on March 12.”

The GDI or the provincial authorities have not explained why the journalist has been detained or where he was taken.

AFJC Said:” The detention of these three journalists just for reporting on the security measures in the Baghlan province indicates a worrisome and reprehensible escalation of attacks on the media that silencing of critical reportage and blatant disregard for press freedom in Afghanistan.”

The AFJC said:” We call on the authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of three journalists and to fulfill their commitment to supporting press freedom by fully implementing the mass media and access to information laws, and creating a safe working environment for media, free of fears and intimidation.”

Afghanistan has witnessed an unprecedented increase in incidents of violence and threats to journalists following the fall of Kabul in mid-August 2021. AFJC has recorded 319 cases of violations against media freedom in Afghanistan, including at least 160 cases of short-term detention of journalists by the Taliban since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Most of these incidents were carried out by agencies or individuals belonging to the Taliban, particularly the police and the General Directorate of Intelligence(GDI).


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