KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) on Monday called for the immediate and unconditional release of Rahim Saeedi, a journalist and media producer sentenced to three years in prison by the Taliban for alleged “propaganda” against them.
In a statement, the AFJC condemned Saeedi’s conviction as unjust and urged the Taliban to consider his deteriorating health. The organization also called on the Taliban to end its crackdown on journalists, which has included detentions, harassment, and intimidation.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Sayed Rahim Saeedi,” the statement said. “The authorities must respect journalists’ rights and allow media professionals to work freely, without fear of arrest, in accordance with the country’s media laws.”
Saeedi, the manager of the YouTube channel “Anar,” was arrested in July 2024 alongside two colleagues, who were later released. Quoting sources, the AFJC said that Saeedi was targeted for creating content critical of the Taliban, including a screenplay about a girl’s struggle for education under their rule.
The AFJC said that despite his family’s efforts, including appeals for clemency to Taliban leadership, Saeedi’s sentence remains in place. He was recently transferred to Pul-e-Charkhi prison, despite suffering from severe health conditions.
The AFJC noted that Saeedi’s trial was held without legal representation or family members present and that he was coerced into accepting the sentence under the threat of a longer prison term.
The AFJC revealed that at least four other journalists are currently serving prison terms under the Taliban. The organization emphasized the need to uphold the right to free expression and called for an end to the systematic targeting of media workers.
Saeedi, a veteran media professional with over two decades of experience, previously worked at Ariana Television before founding “Anar,” which produced cultural and educational content for over 17,000 subscribers.
