Afghanistan Peace Campaign
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reports that Abdul Razzaq Seddiqi, the director of Radio Voice of Badghis, has been released from Taliban custody after a month in detention.
On Friday, December 6, the Center issued a statement confirming that Seddiqi was freed after 34 days, following a ruling by the second district court in Kabul.
According to the report, the Taliban had detained Seddiqi for preparing a report about women from a private company, which they claimed violated their regulations. The report had been broadcast on foreign media outlets, leading to his arrest.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center has expressed its concern, stating that Seddiqi’s detention violated media laws. They emphasized that such actions are not only unlawful but also undermine the freedom of press.
Currently, six journalists remain imprisoned under the Taliban regime, four of whom have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to five years.
The Taliban’s actions against journalists have raised serious concerns, with many human rights organizations condemning their crackdown on media freedom since their takeover of Afghanistan.
The growing number of detained journalists highlights the ongoing suppression of independent reporting in the country.
The detention and abuse of journalists by the Taliban pose a significant challenge to freedom of expression and press in Afghanistan. International bodies and media organizations must continue to advocate for the protection of journalists and press freedoms in the region.