The Taliban has released three local journalists on bail 28 hours after detaining them in the northern Baghlan province, Afghanistan Journalists Centre (AFJC) confirmed on its Facebook page late on Thursday.
These three journalists were detained by the Taliban’s intelligence agents on Wednesday from their homes in Pul-e-Khumri, capital of Baghlan. They were identified as Ghulam Ali Wahdat, a reporter for Tanweer private TV station, Safiullah Wafa and Noor Agha, who both worked for the Taliban-run Afghanistan’s National TV.
“These journalists shouldn’t have arrested and if there is anything wrong with their work, it should be addressed lawfully,” the AFJC said on Thursday while welcoming their release.
According to the AFJC, the journalists had been detained after reporting on performance of the Taliban security forces in the provincial centre which perceived as unwilling for the Taliban authorities.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have often detained journalists and media workers as part of its systematic pressure to force the media and journalists operate in line with the group’s broadcasting policy.
In recent months, the group has dramatically increased the arrest of journalists.
Of those detained, the Afghan-French journalist Mortaza Behboudi, Khairullah Parhar, a sports reporter in Nangahar, and many others are still in Taliban custody despite repeated calls from media supporting organizations for their release.
