Shamsullah Omari was detained along with two other reporters by members of the National Directorate of Intelegence(GDI) in southern Kandahar province on August 13, 2023
August 23, 2023
Kandahar, Kandahar province-The Afghanistan Journalists Center(AFJC) welcomes the release of freelance journalist Shamsullah Omari in southern Kandahar province but condemns his arbitrary arrest and 10 days in detention as a serious press freedom violation.
A journalist in kandahar province who asked to remain anonymous due to security concerns told AFJC that Shamsullah Omari was released today, but the condition that ended to his release is not clear yet. The Taliban authorities in Kandahar province have not commented on the journalist’s release and or the reasons he was detained.
Shamsullah Omari was detained along with the Tolonews TV reporter Ataullah Omar and freelance reporters Wahidurahman Afghanmal by members of the National Directorate of Intelegence(GDI) in Kandahar on August 13. Wahidurahman Afghanmal was released a day after detention, but the Tolonews TV reporter Ataullah Omar is still in detention.
AFJC said: “We welcome the release of Shamsullah Omari , but it is apparent that he and two other journalists should never have been arrested in the first place." "We call on the Taliban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Tolonews TV reporter Ataullah Omar and other imprisoned journalists, and put an end to these arbitrary arrests and uphold the principles of press freedom and freedom of expression."