ToloNews reporter Ruhollah Sangar released after two-day detention in Charikar, capital of Parwan province
December 19, 2023
Kabul - ToloNews TV reporter Ruhollah Sangar, who was arrested two days ago by the Taliban intelligence department in Parwan province, has been released. The Afghanistan Journalists Center welcomes Sangar's release but raises concern about the infringement on his rights as a journalist.
Sources in Parwan and Sangar's relatives have confirmed that he was released from the Parwan intelligence detention center at around 12 noon today and has returned to his home in Saidkhel district. Sangar was arrested on Sunday, December 17, at 11:30 in the morning while preparing a report in Charikar city, the capital of Parwan province.
Shamsur Rahman Sediqi, the head of Taliban information and culture in Parwan, has confirmed Sangar's release but has not provided any details about the reasons for his two-day detention or the circumstances of his release. Local sources have informed AFJC that Sangar was arrested on suspicion of collaborating with foreign media and was released on bail.
AFJC expresses its satisfaction with Sangar's release while emphasizing that his arrest violated the country's media law and his freedom should not have been taken away. According to the Afghanistan Media Law, journalists should be free to carry out their professional work without restrictions or threats. Instead, they should receive support from the authorities.
Currently, there are at least two other journalists imprisoned in the country. Abdur Rahim Mohammadi, a reporter for Tamadon TV in southern Kandahar province, was summoned to the provincial intelligence department on December 4 and subsequently arrested. Similarly, Sultan Ali Jawadi, the head of Nasim private radio station in central Daikundi province, was arrested twice on September 27 and October 7, spending a total of 17 days in prison. Jawadi was recently sentenced to one year in prison by the primary court of Daikundi on December 11.
During the first six months of the ongoing 1402 Solar year (March 21 - September 21, 2023), the AFJC has documented a concerning total of 75 incidents, including arrests and threats, that violate the freedom of journalists and media. This includes 33 journalists being arrested and 42 reported cases of threats. The majority of these arrests were carried out by the intelligence department, implicating various government agencies, particularly the intelligence, information, and culture sectors, in cases of threatening journalists and media.