The Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile (FAJE) has demanded the unconditional release of Neda Mohammad Noori, a journalist from Parwan, criticizing the Taliban for suppressing freedom of expression in Afghanistan by pressuring media workers.
The Taliban have not responded to requests for comment on Noori’s detention.
The FAJE’s statement labeled the arrest of journalists as a “hostile act” and accused the Taliban of trying to muzzle freedom of expression through their treatment of media personnel.
The statement also highlighted an increase in Taliban actions against journalists and media outlets.
According to the federation, the Taliban’s intelligence service arrested six journalists in the past 10 days and shut down two private media outlets in Kabul.
The detainees include Habib Rahman Taseer, a journalist from Radio Azadi in Ghazni Province; Wahedullah Masoom, a staff member at Radio Iqra; Ismail Saadat, a staff member at Radio Naz; Ehsanullah Tasal, a staff member at Radio Woles Ghag in Khost Province; and Shakeel Ahmad Saeed, a staff member at Shamshad TV in Nangarhar Province. In addition, the Taliban have closed the Barya and Noor television stations in Kabul.
The federation has urged the Taliban to ease their stringent measures against the media and to stop restricting the operations of media outlets and journalists in Afghanistan.
