Radio Aftab transmitter antenna in Nili, the capital of Daikundi province. Seized by Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) falsely claiming it as government property.
October 8, 2023
Nili, Daikundi province - The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) vehemently condemns the recent confiscation of equipment from two private radios - Daikundi and Aftab - as well as Sabzha TV in central Daikundi province. The Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) in this province has unlawfully seized the equipment, sparking grave concerns regarding the stifling of media freedom in Daikundi. Moreover, the GDI has forcibly shut down one of the province's two remaining private radio stations.
In an urgent plea to the local administration, AFJC strongly urges the immediate removal of these unjust restrictions and demands the prompt return of the confiscated devices and equipment. AFJC emphasizes the utmost importance of upholding the legal rights of private media outlets and ensuring their unrestricted operation.
During the Taliban takeover of the country on August 15, 2021, the offices of Daikundi and Aftab radios, as well as Sabzha TV, were looted. As a result, a significant portion of their equipment was stolen, rendering these media outlets inactive.
Mohammad Hossain Alizada, the franchise owner of Daikundi Radio and Sabzha TV, disclosed that 70% of the equipment belonging to these organizations was stolen in the early days of the Taliban's takeover of Daikundi province. The remaining equipment was then moved to a secure location but has now been seized by the GDI, who mistakenly consider it government property. No official confirmation or acknowledgment of the confiscated items has been provided.
Alizada stated, "We have been unable to continue our radio and television work due to theft and other issues. Out of necessity, we relocated the remaining equipment to my brother's house. However, last Saturday, my brother was summoned by the intelligence department and coerced into handing over the equipment of Daikundi Radio and Sabzeha TV on the grounds that they belong to the government." Alarmingly, no official confirmation or acknowledgment of the confiscated items has been provided.
Furthermore, the licenses for Radio Daikundi and Sabzeha TV were lawfully obtained in 2005 and 2016, respectively. These two media outlets operated from a joint office in Nili city, the capital of Daikundi province, and served a wide audience in the province.
Mirza Hasani, the owner of Aftab Radio, confirmed their distressing account, stating that their equipment was also confiscated by the intelligence. Following repeated requests, the remaining equipment of Radio Aftab was handed over to the GDI on August 9th.
While local Taliban authorities have yet to comment officially on this matter, journalists in Daikundi have confirmed the theft from these media organizations' offices and the subsequent confiscation of the remaining equipment.
Earlier this year, on May 24, 2023, Mirza Hasani was unlawfully arrested by the Taliban GDI in Herat, falsely accused of collaborating with Taliban opposition. This accusation was vehemently denied by his family. After four months of imprisonment, Mirza Hasani was eventually released and subsequently left Afghanistan with his family.
In addition to the seizure of equipment from Daikundi and Aftab radios and Sabzeha TV, Radio Nasim, one of the two remaining private media outlets in Daikundi, has also been forcibly closed by the intelligence. The closure occurred 11 days ago, with the GDI attributing the decision to the alleged publishing of music and rebroadcasting of programs from a foreign media outlet. Efforts to reopen Radio Nasim since its closure have been unsuccessful.
AFJC condemns these acts against private media in Daikundi and sees them as part of a systematic process to suppress free media. AFJC urges the Taliban authorities to thoroughly investigate the stolen equipment of the aforementioned media outlets and promptly return them. AFJC also calls for reconsideration of the seizure of the remaining equipment from these media organizations, emphasizing the importance of respecting their legal rights. Furthermore, AFJC requests immediate measures to reopen and ensure the unrestricted operation of Radio Nasim.