Authorities in Southern Khost Province Release Three Media Heads, journalist

From right to left: Sarwar Miakhil, head of Gharghasht Radio and TV, Mohammaduddin Shah Khiali, head of Radio Wolas, Pamir Andish, head of Radio Cheenar, and Abdul Rahman Ashna, a reporter for Radio Nan, were detained on May 8, 2023

May 10, 2023

Khost- The Afghanistan Journalists Center welcomes the release of the three media heads, and a journalist after two days in detention at the Department of Virtue and Vice in Southern Khost province, but stresses that they should never have been detained in the first place.

A journalist from Khost province who asked to remain anonymous due to security concerns told AFJC that the four detained media employees were released today afternoon.

Sakhi Sarwar Miakhil, editor-in-chief of Gharghasht Radio and TV, Mohammaduddin Shah Khiali, editor-in-chief of Radio Volas Ghag, Pamir Andish, editor-in-chief of Radio Cheenar and Abdul Rahman Ashna, a reporter for Radio Nan, were detained by the department of Virtue and Vice in Khost on Monday afternoon.

From right to left: Sakhi Sarwar Miakhil, editor-in-chief of Gharghasht Radio and TV, Mohammaduddin Shah Khiali, editor-in-chief of Radio Wolas, Pamir Andish Mahidi, editor-in-chief of Radio Cheenar and Abdul Rahman Ashna, a reporter for Radio Nan, were detained on May 8, 2023

The source added that the Department of Virtue and Vice accused the media outlets of not adhering to the "Islamic Emirate's" media principles in their media programs. Another source said that local officials had warned these media outlets about broadcasting music, and it is likely that the main reason for the detentions of these four media employees is for playing music during their recent programs.

Describing this, Shabir Ahmad Osmani, the head of information and culture for the "Islamic Emirate" in Khost, said that the media workers “have not been arrested, but have been called to account for sharing some important issues.”

AFJC said:” We welcome the release of the three media heads, and a journalist after two days in detention, but the authorities must ensure that they can work without further intimidation or threat of arrest,”

AFJC said:” “If there is any case of professional misconduct or offense then let authorities expedite an administrative or legal process to address the issue in a fair, transparent, and in accordance with the Afghanistan media law.”

 According to Afghanistan’s mass media law, journalists are free to carry out their professional duties, and authorities have no right to interfere in their work.