KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban authorities have detained three journalists in Takhar province, raising fresh concerns over the ongoing crackdown on press freedom in the country.
Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) confirmed the arrests and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all three. The organization expressed deep concern over what it described as a worsening environment for journalists under Taliban rule.
Nasratullah Ebrahimi, a reporter for Ariana News, along with freelance journalists Moneer Hadaf and Asadullah Timor, have been in Taliban custody for several days.
A local journalist in Takhar told AFJC that the three were detained by the criminal investigations department of the Taliban’s provincial police. According to the source, Hadaf and Timor were arrested around 9:00 p.m. on Monday, while Ebrahimi was detained the following morning.
Another local source said the arrests may be linked to their media activities. Taliban officials in Takhar have so far not commented on the matter.
Sources reported that all three detainees were subjected to mistreatment, including physical abuse, while in custody.
Nearly four years into Taliban rule, press freedom in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate. Journalists are frequently targeted for suspected ties to foreign or exiled media outlets.
A recent AFJC report documented a 24 percent increase in media rights violations over the past year, with 181 cases recorded, including 131 threats and 50 arrests. At least 13 journalists and media workers are currently detained across the country. Among them, six have reportedly been sentenced to prison terms ranging from several months to three years.
Rights groups continue to warn that journalists in Afghanistan face growing risks of censorship, harassment, arbitrary detention, and violence by the Taliban.
