Mansoor Nekmal, journalist and editor-in-chief of Khaama Press news agency, was released Sunday after being detained for over 24 hours by the Taliban, according to a report from the Afghanistan Journalist Center (AFJC).
Nekmal was arrested on Saturday morning for covering a story on the Taliban’s detention of women. The AFJC expressed concern over his detention and the broader issue of Taliban interference in media activities, calling for an end to such practices.
Khushnood Nabizada, owner of Khaama Press, confirmed to the AFJC that Nekmal was released after spending a night in the ministry’s detention center. The federation criticized the arrest as contrary to media laws and the Taliban’s own commitments.
The AFJC report also highlighted that Nekmal’s arrest is the fifth journalist detention by the Taliban in the last month. This includes two journalists from Gardish-e Itlaat news agency, one from Japan’s Kyodo news agency, and a local journalist from Pajhwok in Samangan, who was reportedly held in a private jail of the Taliban’s governor for two days.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, thousands of Afghan journalists have fled the country due to security concerns and threats from the Taliban.
