February 16, 2023
Kandahar- The Afghanistan Journalists Center(AFJC) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohammadyar Majrooh, a reporter for Tolonews TV that was arrested in Kandahar as part of the ongoing crackdown on media in Afghanistan.
On February 15, Mohammadyar Majrooh, a reporter for the privately owned Tolonews TV in Kandahar was summoned by the General Directorate of Intelligence(GDI) in the province for interrogation and never returned home, a journalist in Kandahar who spoke to AFJC on the condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal.
The GDI or the provincial authorities have not explained why the journalist has been detained or where he was taken. AFJC could not determine whether Majrooh was arrested for his work as a journalist.
AFJC said:” We are gravely concerned that the whereabouts and the current situation of Mohammadyar Majrooh has not been disclosed to their families as of the time of the release of this statement – which constitutes a violation of his visitation right.”
AFJC said:” “The arbitrary detainment of Mohammadyar Majrooh is a grave violation of press freedom and he must be released immediately and without any conditions."
AFJC Said:” We call on the Islamic Emirate [Taliban] authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all detained journalists and safeguard the rights of the press and to cease the use of force and ensure the freedom of the press in Afghanistan.”
AFJC has identified that at least nine journalists and media workers have been arrested during the last three months due to their journalistic activities. Among them, Qudratullah Tarar, a reporter for Zarghun TV in Khost, sports journalist Khairullah Parhar in Jalalabad, and the Afghan-French journalist Mortaza Behboudi are still in prison.