Rukhshana Media
On Monday, the Taliban have detained two journalists of a private television network in Kabul, a colleague and the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) confirmed.
Abdul Waris Hasrat, a news anchor, and Aslam Hijab, a reporter, both working for Ariana News Television network, were detained by the Taliban’s intelligence services, AFJC confirmed in a tweet on Monday.
The Ariana News Television network has not officially confirmed the arrests, but Sharif Hassanyar, the Kabul director of the television network, confirmed his colleagues’ arrest on his Twitter account. “Taliban have arrested two of our colleagues in Ariana News today in a horrific manner. The motive for the arrest is still unknown,” Hassanyar tweeted.
He said the journalists’ families are concerned for their safety.
The Taliban have not commented on the arrest.
The news of the arrest comes as the Taliban intensifies its repression of media and freedom of expression. Last week, the Taliban cancelled a news conference organized by the Afghanistan Federation of Journalists and Media.
The federation’s report, which the Taliban didn’t allow to be released in the conference, shows that the Taliban are responsible for 62 % of threats and intimidation against the journalists in Afghanistan.
