June 17, 2014
Kandahar: The editor-in-chief of Web site Benawa was detained by National Directorate of Security (NDS) personnel in southern Kandahar province on Tuesday, an official said.
Benawa says in a statement that Khalid Hadi was detained at the Kandahar International Airport before he could board flight for Kabul on Tuesday at 11am.
The governor’s spokesman, Dawa Khan Minapal, confirmed arrest of Mr. Hadi to Pajwhok Afghan News and linking the action to write-ups against Governor Toryalai Weesa, his wife and other officials.
He said the articles released by Khalid Hadi on the Benawa webpage were violative of journalistic principles. He said the man was under investigation and details would be made public once the process was completed.
A resident of Kandahar, the editor-in-chief of Benawa presently lives in the United States. Hadi, who recently came to Kandahar to visit his friends and relatives, was arrested before he could leave the country.
Afghanistan Journalists Center is very worried to learn over the arrest of Khalid Hadi and condemn the action as illegal and calling on the Kandahar governor to release him as soon as possible.
AFJC urge the local authorities to respect the Afghan Mass Media law and follow their complaint through the Mass Media commission.