Haseeb Hassas, a reporter for Radio Salam Watandar in Kunduz, was arrested on Wednesday by intelligence agencies. Habibullah Sarab, a reporter for Ariana News Television in Paktia province, was arrested on the same day.
The Afghan Journalists Center (AFJC) has expressed deep concern over the arrests and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the two journalists.
“The arrests of these journalists are part of an ongoing crackdown on the media in Afghanistan,” said Mujib Khalwatgar, AFJC executive director. “We call on the Taliban to stop this harassment and intimidation of journalists and to allow them to do their jobs freely.”
The reasons for the arrests of Hassas and Sarab are not yet known, the AFJC said that the arrests are likely linked to the journalists’ work.
Hassas has been a vocal critic of the Taliban and has reported on human rights abuses in Kunduz. Sarab has reported on the Taliban’s efforts to control the media in Paktia province.
The arrests of Hassas and Sarab come just days after two other journalists were detained in Nangarhar province. Faqir Mohammad Faqirzai and Jan Agha Saleh, reporters for Radio Kilid, were arrested by the intelligence agency of that province on Tuesday.
The AFJC called on the international community to pressure the Taliban to stop its harassment and intimidation of journalists.
“The international community must speak out against the Taliban’s crackdown on the media,” said Khalwatgar. “We need to make it clear that we will not tolerate this kind of repression.”
