Afghanistan: Taliban GDI Arrest Nangarhar Journalist and Released Him After 13 Days

Broadcast journalist Irfanullah Bidar was released on July 24, 2023, following his arrest by the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) in Jalalabad, Nangarhar on July 12. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned the journalist’s arbitrary arrest and urged his captors to ensure that journalists can operate without fear of harassment, violence, or detention.

A family member of Radio Safa reporter Irfanullah Bidar confirmed that the journalist was abducted on July 12, with unknown persons placing a bag over his head and forcing Bidar into a vehicle outside a mosque in Jalalabad. Bidar was released on July 24 following nearly 13 days in detention, with his captors believed to be members of the GDI, the Taliban’s national intelligence agency.

The journalist’s family was not able to locate him during his disappearance, with Taliban representatives failing to provide any information on Bidar’s disappearance or the reason behind his arrest. Neither the journalist’s family nor the Taliban have issued any public statements concerning his detention and release.

The IFJ said that Bidar’s arrest was “a clear attempt to intimidate and silence journalists in Afghanistan.” The IFJ called on the Taliban to “immediately and unconditionally release all journalists who have been arbitrarily detained and to guarantee the safety of all journalists in Afghanistan.”

The arrest of Bidar is the latest in a series of incidents in which journalists have been targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan. In recent months, there have been several reports of journalists being harassed, threatened, and even attacked by the Taliban.

The IFJ said that the Taliban’s targeting of journalists is “a serious attack on press freedom in Afghanistan.” The IFJ called on the international community to “press the Taliban to respect the rights of journalists and to ensure that they can operate freely in Afghanistan.”

The arrest of Bidar is a reminder of the dangers that journalists face in Afghanistan. The Taliban has a history of repressing freedom of expression, and journalists who report on sensitive topics are often targeted. The IFJ urged the Taliban to respect the rights of journalists and to allow them to operate freely in Afghanistan.

The IFJ said: “The all too common disappearances, arrests, and attacks suffered by media workers under Taliban rule continue to quash press freedom and create a highly dangerous environment for journalists doing their jobs. The IFJ condemns Irfanullah Bidar’s detention and urges the Taliban to release all jailed journalists and cease its intimidation of Afghanistan’s media.”