The Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) has reported that Latif Yaqoubi, a reporter for Voice of America (VOA), was detained by the Taliban in southeastern Ghazni province on Monday.
According to a statement from AIJA, Yaqoubi was arrested at a wedding ceremony in Ghazni province. The association has called for the immediate release of the reporter immediately.
Mawlawi Hamidullah Nisar, the Taliban’s provincial head of Information and Culture, was quoted in the statement as saying that Yaqoubi’s arrest was not related to his work in the media and that he would be released soon.
AIJA has also appealed to the Taliban to thoroughly investigate cases involving media personnel through the Media Complaints and Rights Violations Commission.
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 to operate in line with the group’s broadcasting policy.
