Ahmad Jawed Niazi, head of a local media outlet, Paigard News Agency, has been arrested by the Taliban in Kabul, the Afghanistan Media Support Organization, an exiled media advocacy group led by Hamid Obaidi, said on Saturday.
AMSO said Niazi was arrested Thursday night at his office in Kabul by members of the Taliban’s intelligence agency.
Niazi’s relatives told the organization that they had received no clear information about his whereabouts or condition since the arrest.
AMSO described the detention as “a serious obstacle to freedom of expression and media activity” in Afghanistan.
Taliban had not publicly commented on the arrest by Saturday.
Figures by media groups show that at least five journalists, including Niazi, are currently being held in Taliban custody.
Bashir Hatef, Hamid Farhadi, Shakib Nazari and Abuzar Sarem are among those in Taliban custody, according to media groups.
Rights groups and media watchdogs have repeatedly accused Taliban authorities of arbitrarily detaining journalists, restricting reporting and intimidating media workers since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Taliban have said they support media activity within the framework of what they describe as Islamic and national values, but journalists inside Afghanistan say increasing restrictions, censorship and fear of arrest have sharply limited independent reporting.
International organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, have documented a steady decline in press freedom in Afghanistan over the past several years.
Many journalists have fled the country since the Taliban takeover, while others who remained have reported harassment, interrogations and pressure to avoid sensitive political or security coverage.
AMSO called on Taliban to release Niazi and other detained journalists “immediately and unconditionally.”
The organization also urged international institutions and media rights groups to increase pressure on Taliban to protect journalists and ensure their safety.
“Detaining and harassing journalists does not solve problems,” the organization said in a statement. “It only deepens the challenges facing society and the media.”
