RASC News Agency: The Afghanistan Journalists Center demands that the Taliban immediately and unconditionally release Mansour Nikmal, the chief editor of Khamah Press News Agency. In a statement from the Afghanistan Journalists Center, quoting Khushnud Nabizada, the owner of Khamah Press, it is mentioned that Nikmal was summoned on Saturday, Feb 17, for publishing a picture of a young lady allegedly spoken about by a Ministry of propagation of Virtue and prevention of Vice representative.
Nabizada states that Nikmal disappeared after being summoned to the Ministry of Virtue and Vice by the Taliban, and his whereabouts are unknown. According to a statement from the Afghanistan Journalists Center, the Ministry of Virtue and Vice and Taliban intelligence unlawfully interfere directly with media activities. The statement from the Afghanistan Journalists Center notes that Mr. Nikmal has been working as the chief editor of Khamah Press News Agency in Kabul for two years.
Taliban authorities have not commented on the detention of this journalist; however, previously, several journalists have been detained by the Taliban on various pretexts. The Taliban previously detained two reporters from Gardesh-e-Ettlaat news agency, a Kyodo reporter, and a local Pajhwok reporter in Samangan province, confiscating their equipment.
Since the Taliban took control of the country, they have extensively suppressed freedom of expression, imposed numerous restrictions on media outlets and journalists, causing many media outlets to cease operations due to these restrictions.
