Afghan authorities confirm detention of two TV journalists

KABUL: Afghan authorities said on Tuesday that two journalists from private broadcaster TOLO News had been taken into custody in Kabul, while press freedom groups urged their release.

TOLO News said in a post on X on Sunday that its journalists Imran Danish and Mansoor Niazi had been detained in the Afghan capital. The broadcaster said security officials, in discussions with the outlet, had told it that further details would be provided after the completion of the relevant legal process.

The Afghan information and culture ministry also confirmed the arrests. In a statement, ministry spokesman Khobaib Ghofran said that “a few days ago, two TOLO News journalists were arrested by security agencies”. He added that their case was being investigated and that no court ruling had yet been issued.

Ghofran did not state why the two journalists had been arrested.

Press groups raise concerns

The detentions drew criticism from media advocacy organisations, which called for the journalists to be freed and voiced concern over the lack of clarity surrounding the case.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said in a post on X on Tuesday that Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities should “immediately and unconditionally release the detained journalists and ensure the press can operate without interference”.

Afghanistan Media Support Organisation, a local media watchdog, said in a statement issued on Sunday that it had “deep concerns” about the arrests. The group said there was no “precise information… regarding the reasons for their arrests or their whereabouts”.

“The arrest of Mr Danish and Mr Niazi demonstrates that there are no guarantees for the safety of journalists and media outlets,” the group said. “Even media organisations that attempt to adapt their activities to the current environment are still not safe from arbitrary arrests and pressure.”

The statements from the ministry and the broadcaster established that the two journalists remained under detention as of Tuesday, with the matter still under investigation and no court decision announced.

TOLO News is one of Afghanistan’s leading private television channels. The case has added to concerns raised by media rights organisations about the operating environment for journalists in the country, as reflected in the reactions issued by both international and local watchdogs following the detentions.

No further official details about the allegations or legal grounds in the case were provided in the statements cited on Tuesday.