Taliban forces have detained a local television journalist Abdul Rahim Mohammadi in Kandahar province, the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AfJC) said.
Mr Mohammadi from Tamadun TV was summoned to the Taliban’s intelligence office in Kandahar province on Monday December 4 and has not been heard from since, a statement from AfJC said.
The organization is concerned for his safety and has called for his immediate and unconditional release.
AfJC said that Taliban authorities are not commenting on the reason for Mr Mohammadi’s arrest or on his situation and whereabouts.
Mr Mohammadi’s family has also declined to discuss the matter, the AfJC statement said.
The AfJC is urging the local Taliban officials in Kandahar to follow up any complaints against journalists in adherence to media law and through the designated channels of the Media Complaints Commission.
Mr Mohammadi has been working as a reporter for the privately-owned Tamadan TV since 2019.
The network has had previous altercations with Taliban forces, AfJC said.
In December 2022, Taliban forces attacked Tamdan TV’s Kandahar headquarters, verbally abusing and threatening employees of network. They left with two cars belonging to the media outlet.
In March 2022, the Taliban intelligence ordered the TV station not to broadcast religious programs, films, and serials with Islamic content, and to refrain from publishing any kind of films and serials.
Mr Mohammadi’s detention is the latest in a number of Taliban arrests of media workers across Afghanistan.
