The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) issued a statement on Wednesday, reporting that Aminullah Alemi, the founder and franchise owner of Radio Mumtaz in Faryab province in northern Afghanistan, has been in Taliban custody for the past five days.
AFJC quoted local sources in Faryab and clarified that the arrest of Alemi is not linked to his role as the owner of Mumtaz Radio’s license. However, the organization expressed concern over his detention and urged the Taliban to handle the matter in accordance with the law.
Mumtaz Radio, established by Aminullah Alemi around a decade ago in the city of Maimana in Faryab, has been serving the local community with news and information.
During the republic government, the media outlet mostly focused on broadcasting entertainment and music programs. However, over the past two years, there has been a notable shift, and the center reported that it now broadcasts religious songs and some programs from the Salam Watandar radio network.
Presently, Faryab hosts four active radio networks, namely Tamanna, Sehat, National, Afkar Hamad, and Yasra. Unfortunately, after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, several media outlets, including Maimeneh Radio, Turkistan Radio, and Swash Radio, were forced to cease operations due to economic challenges and the media restrictions imposed by the new authorities.
The arrest of journalists and media personnel by the Taliban has been a matter of concern since the group took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The situation has raised alarms among media organizations and rights groups about the safety and freedom of press in the country. Journalists have faced threats, violence, and restrictions on their work, leading to a climate of fear and uncertainty for media professionals.
Despite calls for transparency and respect for press freedom, the Taliban’s actions against journalists and media figures continue to be closely monitored by local and international organizations. The arrest of Aminullah Alami adds to the growing list of incidents that have raised apprehension within the media community in Afghanistan.
