KABUL, Afghanistan — The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association (AIJA) in a joint statement called on the Taliban to immediately release Mahdi Ansari, a reporter for the Afghan News Agency (Afka), and drop all charges against him.
According to the statement, Ansari was detained by Taliban intelligence in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul on charges of collaborating with independent media outlets deemed “anti-Taliban” and accused of spreading propaganda against the Taliban.
This is the second time Ansari has been detained by the Taliban. In October 2023, he was arrested after posting on Facebook about the anniversary of a suicide bombing at an educational center linked to the Hazara community.
The IFJ and AIJA highlighted the escalating pressures on journalists and media workers in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power on Aug. 15, 2021. The groups noted that more than half of Afghanistan’s media outlets have shut down, with a significant increase in arbitrary arrests, harassment, and violence against journalists.
“Journalists in Afghanistan continue to face enormous challenges and are at risk of detention, violence, and intimidation,” the statement read. “The Taliban have imposed severe restrictions and censorship on media and press activities.”
The IFJ also urged the Taliban to cease arbitrary detentions of media professionals and called on the international community to take a stronger stance in defending press freedom in Afghanistan.
While the Taliban deny detaining Ansari, the Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that he has been sentenced to 18 months in prison following his arrest.
A friend of Ansari told the Journalists Center that the reporter disappeared on Saturday evening, Oct. 14, after leaving the Afka News Agency office in the Pul-e-Surkh area of Kabul. His whereabouts remained unknown for days, sparking concern among his family and colleagues.
A family member later confirmed that Ansari had been detained by Taliban intelligence and was being held at the Taliban’s Directorate 40 facility in the Shash Darak area of Kabul.
According to sources close to Ansari, his trial was held on Jan. 2, raising further questions about due process and the circumstances of his detention.
