According to Human Rights Watch Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been detaining and assaulting journalists and imposing new restrictions on media work. On September 7, 2021, Taliban security forces detained Taqi Daryabi and Nemat Naqdi, journalists from the Kabul-based media outlet Etilaat-e Roz.
The reporters had been covering protests by women in Kabul demanding an end to Taliban violations of the rights of women. Etilaat-e Roz reported that Taliban authorities took the two men to a police station in Kabul. Placed them in separate cells, and severely beat them with cables. Both men were released on September 8. They received medical care at a hospital for injuries to their backs and faces.
“Taliban authorities claimed that they would allow the media to function so long as they ‘respected Islamic values.’ But they are increasingly preventing journalists from reporting on demonstrations,” said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
The Taliban authorities also detained a Tolonews photojournalist, Wahid Ahmadi, on September 7, and released him the same day. They confiscated his camera and prevented other journalists from filming the protest.
Since early September, Afghan women and girls in several cities have held protests against Taliban’s violations of women and girls’ rights.
Taliban security forces have broken up most of these recent demonstrations by beating protesters. Confiscating and damaging cameras. And threatening reporters.
International human rights law prohibits arbitrary restrictions on the rights to freedom of speech and expression. Including by detaining journalists and banning media outlets. And to peaceful assembly.
