KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban released journalist Hamid Farhadi on Thursday after he completed a two-year prison sentence on charges of propaganda against the group and cooperation with the exiled Etilaatroz newspaper, his family confirmed.
A member of Farhadi’s family said he was released from Bagram prison on Thursday. His release came after he had spent nearly two years in Taliban custody following his arrest in Kabul in September 2024.
Farhadi was detained by Taliban Interior Ministry forces on Sept. 3, 2024. On Sept. 19, a Taliban court sentenced him to two years in prison on charges of “propaganda” against the Taliban and cooperation with Etilaatroz, which now operates from exile.
The journalist was initially held at Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul. In March 2025, the Taliban transferred him to Bagram prison, where he remained until his release.
During his detention, Farhadi’s family was permitted to visit him only once a month for 30 minutes, according to his family.
His imprisonment had drawn concern from international rights organizations, UN experts, and media watchdogs, who repeatedly called for his release.
Amnesty International last year wrote to the Taliban Interior Ministry expressing concern about Farhadi’s health and alleged that he had been subjected to mistreatment, including solitary confinement, which it said had significantly affected his mental health.
Farhadi’s case is part of a broader crackdown on journalists and independent media since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The authorities have introduced restrictions on media operations, detained journalists and imposed measures that rights groups say have limited independent reporting.
Journalists and media workers have been arrested on charges including “propaganda” and cooperation with Afghan media outlets operating from abroad. Media organizations have also faced restrictions on their reporting, while hundreds of outlets have closed amid pressure and financial difficulties.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most difficult environments for journalists. Reporters Without Borders ranked the country 175th out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center said in its latest annual report that it documented 207 cases of media rights violations during the previous solar year, including two journalist killings, one injury, 183 threats and 21 arrests. The group said violations increased by 20% compared with the previous year.
Media watchdogs and human rights organizations continue to call on the Taliban to respect press freedom and ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear of arrest or retaliation.
