April 6, 2023
Pul-e-Khumri, Baghlan province- Ghulam Ali Wahdat a reporter for Tanwir TV and Noor Agha Sa’dat, a reporter, and Safiullah Safa a cameraman of Radio Television Afghanistan(RTA) in Baghlan province were released by the General Directorate of Intelligence(GDI) after being held for 28 hours.
Yesterday, the General Directorate of Intelligence(GDI) in Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital of northeastern Baghlan province summoned the three journalists and detained them at around 9 am. They were being questioned by the GDI officers regarding a report on the Taliban’s security measures at the checkpoints outside of the city that was published on March 12.
The GDI or the provincial authorities have not explained why the journalists were detained or what conditions they were released.
AFJC Said:” “While we welcome the release of the journalist in Baghlan, detaining journalists because they report the news is reprehensible that silencing of critical reportage and blatant disregard for press freedom in Afghanistan.” said AFJC executive director Ahmad Quraishi
“We call on the authorities to fulfill their commitment to supporting press freedom by fully implementing the mass media and access to information laws, and creating a safe working environment for media, free of fears and intimidation," Quraishi added
Afghanistan has witnessed an unprecedented increase in incidents of violence and threats to journalists following the fall of Kabul in mid-August 2021. AFJC has recorded 319 cases of violations against media freedom in Afghanistan, including at least 160 cases of short-term detention of journalists by the Taliban since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Most of these incidents were carried out by agencies or individuals belonging to the Taliban, particularly the police and the General Directorate of Intelligence(GDI).