KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban authorities in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province have detained a young man accused of posting critical content about the group on social media, the provincial police command said.
The man was arrested on Tuesday in the Esfandi area of Ghazni city’s fourth district, according to the Taliban police command. The police said the man would be handed over to the group’s relevant authorities after an initial investigation.
Authorities did not provide details about the content of the posts or identify the man.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed strict controls on media and public expression across Afghanistan. Journalists, activists and ordinary social media users face restrictions and, in some cases, detention for criticizing the authorities or their policies.
The group has repeatedly warned Afghans against publishing online material it considers critical of its rule. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has said it actively monitors social media platforms and will take action against content it describes as “critical” or “false information.”
Human rights and media organizations have documented cases of Afghans being detained solely over social media activity and criticism of Taliban policies. Some former detainees have also reported mistreatment in custody.
The latest arrest highlights the ongoing restrictions on freedom of expression in Afghanistan, where media outlets and journalists operate under extensive rules and restrictions imposed by the Taliban.
