August 12, 2023
Ghazni, Ghazni Province - The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) welcomes the release of local journalist Sayed Wahdatullah Abdali in Southeastern Ghazni province. However, we strongly condemn his arbitrary arrest and one-week detention as a grave violation of press freedom.
Sources in Southern Ghazni province told AFJC that Sayed Wahdatullah Abdali was released today. However, the specific conditions leading to his release have yet to be disclosed. The Taliban authorities in Ghazni province have yet to comment on his release.
Abdali was apprehended from his residence in Qala-e-Naw village, Khaja Omari district, along with multiple other villagers on August 6. His detention occurred two days after an unidentified assailant killed a local Taliban official in the same district. AFJC sources reveal that Abdali underwent investigation during his seven days in custody and was subsequently released after evidence of his innocence emerged.
Sayed Wahdatullah Abdali, aged 35, has served as a reporter for the state-run Bakhtar News Agency for the past 15 years, working during both the republic government's tenure and the Taliban's regime.
AFJC firmly asserts, "While we appreciate Sayed Wahdatullah Abdali's release, it is evident that his initial arrest was unwarranted." We urgently call on the Taliban authorities to promptly and unconditionally release all other incarcerated journalists, putting an end to these arbitrary arrests and upholding the fundamental principles of press freedom and freedom of expression."
Currently, AFJC notes with concern that a total of nine journalists and media personnel, including an Afghan-French reporter and eight other journalists from Fariab, Nangarhar, Kunduz, Kunar, and Paktia provinces, remain in custody.