RASC News Agency: The Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization (AJSO) has strongly condemned the arrest of renowned Afghanistani journalist Freshta Sediq in Pakistan, warning that the incident constitutes a serious threat to human rights and freedom of expression. In its official statement, AJSO voiced deep alarm over the recent actions of Pakistani law enforcement targeting Afghanistani journalists, emphasizing that Sediq’s detention has exacerbated concerns about the deteriorating conditions faced by Afghanistani refugees in the country. The organization underscored that many journalists sought refuge in Pakistan following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, fleeing escalating threats, censorship, and media repression. Sediq’s arrest, it argued, is emblematic of the compounding pressures and vulnerabilities these journalists now endure.
AJSO has called for Sediq’s immediate release and urged the Pakistani government to adhere to international human rights obligations in its treatment of refugees particularly journalists, whose work is vital to accountability and democratic discourse. The group warned that such arbitrary and unlawful detentions contribute to a climate of fear among Afghanistani refugees and further undermine press freedom within Pakistan itself. The organization also urged Pakistani authorities to provide full transparency regarding Sediq’s legal status and to address mounting international concerns over the state of press freedom and human rights in the country. AJSO appealed to international organizations and human rights bodies to accelerate the asylum processes for Afghanistani journalists and facilitate their safe resettlement in third countries.
According to credible sources, Pakistani police detained Freshta Sediq on Monday at her residence in Islamabad and transferred her to the “Haji Camp,” a facility designated for holding Afghanistani refugees. Reports suggest that her detention may be linked to plans for her forced repatriation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a move that would place her at grave personal risk. The arrest comes amid a broader wave of repression and deportations targeting Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Pakistan has served as a critical yet increasingly inhospitable sanctuary for Afghanistani journalists and media professionals. With recent crackdowns intensifying, the safety and future of these individuals are more precarious than ever.
