The Afghanistan Journalist Support Organization (AJSO) has raised concerns over the arrest of journalist Saeed Rahimi, calling for his “unconditional” release from detention.
While the AJSO did not provide details about the reason for Rahimi’s arrest or the exact date of his detention, some media outlets reported that the journalist was arrested by Taliban intelligence last Sunday, July 15.
The AJSO urged the Taliban to respect freedom of expression and release all detained journalists unconditionally. “Unfortunately, journalists and media activists in the country face more serious threats and vulnerabilities than in other parts of the world,” the organization said in a statement. “They lack independence, freedom of expression, economic support, and the ability to inform the public.”
The Taliban has not yet commented on Saeedi Rahimi’s arrest.
On Thursday, the Afghanistan Journalists Center reported that at least 90 cases of threats and arrests of journalists were recorded in the first six months of this year, covering the period from January to June.
