The Taliban say they have arrested two employees of an Afghan cultural organisation that makes short films about life in the country on charges of promoting atheism, Christianity and feminism.
The arrests were announced on X by the Taliban’s notorious Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, along with a video of what appeared to be a confession by one of the detainees. The Taliban has a history of eliciting forced confessions from suspects.
Both detainees work for Nama Rasana, an online media outlet that produces films and other cultural content and runs a digital library and a store for cultural products in Afghanistan. One was named as Sayed Reza, while the other has not been identified.
In a video released by the Taliban, Reza is shown saying the organisation was producing serials that did not conform to Islamic Sharia law. He is seen holding copies of the Bible and other books on Christian and feminist thought.
Nama Rasana has not commented on the arrests, which were made under sweeping new Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice legislation imposed by the Taliban last year.
The Taliban have imposed strict restrictions on media and journalists, since returning to power in 2021, frequently arresting and imprisoning journalists and media workers. They have also arrested feminist activists for their campaigning.
According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center, at least 10 journalists and media workers are currently in Taliban custody or serving prison sentences.
