RASC News Agency: The Afghanistan Journalists’ Protection Organization has reported the arrest of a media worker by the Taliban in Kabul. On Sunday, July 21, the organization issued a statement announcing that the Taliban had detained Sayed Rahim Saeedi, a program producer for a private television channel in Kabul. The statement noted that the Taliban recently arrested Saeedi but did not provide a reason for his detention.
The Afghanistan Journalists’ Protection Organization condemned the arrest and called for Saeedi’s immediate release, describing his detention as arbitrary and without evidence or cause. They urged the Taliban to release him promptly. As of now, the Taliban in Kabul have not commented on the matter. This incident follows the publication of findings by the Afghanistan Journalists’ Center two days prior, which documented nearly 90 violations of journalists’ and media rights in the first half of the current year under Taliban rule. The organization has declared that Afghanistan, under Taliban control, is not a safe place for journalists.
The report highlighted the unpredictable and dangerous conditions for journalists in Afghanistan, with many having been arrested and tortured on various charges and pretexts. Previously, the Taliban stated that they do not recognize the Afghanistan Journalists’ Center. However, the center continues its work in exile, recently labeling the Taliban as a violent group and reporting numerous instances of violence and harassment against journalists in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
