Local Radio Station Closed in Central Daikundi Province, Three Employees Detained

From left to right: Nasim Radio reporters Mojtaba Qasemi and Saifullah Rezaei, along with Radio manager Ali Jawadi, were detained by GDI in Nili, the capital of Daikundi province, on Wednesday, September 27. They were released after 5 hours in detention. 

September 28, 2023

Nili, Dikundi province - On September 27, 2023, Nasim Radio in Daikundi was forcibly closed by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), resulting in the arrest of its director and two reporters. Although the employees were subsequently released after five hours, Nasim Radio remains closed. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) deems this action a violation of the country's mass media law and an attempt to further restrict free media and demands the immediate reopening of Nasim Radio.

According to a source in Daikundi, at approximately 12:00 PM on Wednesday, intelligence forces stormed Nasim Radio's office in Nili city, the capital of Central Daikundi province. During the raid, the forces confiscated the employees' work tools, including mobile phones and voice recorders, and sealed the gate of the radio station.

The GDI subsequently detained the head of the radio station, Sultan Ali Javadi, along with reporters Saifullah Rezaei and Mojtaba Qasemi. They were transferred to the intelligence office in Nili. The manager and journalists were released at around 5:00 PM after providing bail. However, they were informed that Nasim Radio would remain closed until further notice.

As of now, local Taliban officials in Daikundi have not commented on the reason for the closure of Nasim Radio and the arrest of its employees. However, a credible source has indicated that it may be due to the rebroadcasting of programs from a foreign radio network.

AFJC applauds the release of the Nasim Radio manager and the two reporters. However, AFJC strongly condemns the attack on the radio station as an attempt to suppress and restrict the activities of free media. AFJC requests that the Taliban issue permission to reopen Nasim Radio and refrain from obstructing the free activity of media outlets and their employees. According to Afghanistan's media law, media should be free to carry out their professional work without restrictions or threats. Officials should be supportive of the media and journalists.

It is noteworthy that earlier this year, the Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture affirmed that no other entity has the right to interfere in media affairs or the work of journalists. The ministry stated that issues and complaints related to the media and journalists in the country should be handled through the Ministry of Information and Culture, particularly the Commission for Handling Media Complaints and Violations.