RASC News Agency: Leading international journalism organizations have called upon the Taliban to immediately release Mahdi Ansari, a journalist recently detained by the group. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Afghanistan Independent Journalists’ Union (AIJGU) have issued a joint statement condemning the Taliban court’s decision to sentence Ansari to 18 months in prison. The organizations have demanded his unconditional release, describing his imprisonment as a blatant attack on press freedom.
Ansari, a journalist affiliated with Afghan News Agency, was arrested on October 5, 2024 in the Dasht-e-Barchi district of Kabul. He was later charged with “propaganda against the Taliban regime” and sentenced by the group’s court. The Taliban allege that Ansari disseminated anti-regime materials, claiming they possess “substantial evidence,” including videos retrieved from his personal media channels. These videos reportedly featured remarks critical of the Taliban’s administration. In a formal declaration, the Taliban stated, “Mahdi Ansari has been sentenced to one and a half years of imprisonment, commencing from the date of his detention, for engaging in anti-regime propaganda.”
The Afghanistan Independent Journalists’ Union has announced its intent to advocate for a reduction of Ansari’s sentence in future court proceedings. The International Federation of Journalists has also voiced grave concerns about the increasing dangers faced by journalists in Afghanistan, citing widespread incidents of arbitrary detention, intimidation, and violence against media professionals under Taliban rule. The Taliban’s history of targeting journalists is well-documented, with numerous cases of unlawful arrests, torture, and prolonged detentions. Despite repeated appeals from various organizations, many journalists remain incarcerated.
Media advocacy groups have reiterated their call for the Taliban to end the arbitrary detention of journalists and have urged the international community to stand firm in defending press freedom and the right to independent reporting in Afghanistan. The Taliban, however, have consistently disregarded such appeals, continuing their oppressive tactics with impunity.
