RASC News Agency: The Afghanistan Journalists Center has announced that Saifullah Karimi, a reporter for Pajhwok News Agency in Samangan Province, was released two days after being detained by the Taliban. According to a bulletin issued by the Afghanistan Journalists Center on Monday, Feb 12, citing local sources, the center confirmed Saifullah Karimi’s release.
The center’s bulletin cited a source stating that Mr. Karimi was held in the Taliban governor’s office in Samangan Province and was released by the group around 11:30 a.m. on Monday. The center’s bulletin described the detention of this journalist in the Taliban governor’s personal detention facility in Samangan as “arbitrary” and “illegal” and added that the group’s authorities should investigate the matter. The Afghanistan Journalists Center further stated, based on this source, that the Taliban detained Saifullah Karimi after his request to interview the treasurer of the group in Samangan regarding restaurant owners’ objections to tax increases was rejected, initially with threats and then with detention.
As of now, there is no information available regarding Mr. Karimi’s health condition, and it should be noted that the Taliban summoned and then detained Mr. Karimi at the governor’s office of the group in Samangan Province on Saturday. This comes as the Taliban, during their over two-year rule, have severely suppressed freedom of speech and democracy and imposed increasing restrictions on the activities and work of media outlets and journalists.
