RSF Condemns Detention of 12 Journalists in Eastern Afghanistan

DID Press: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the temporary detention of 12 journalists in Khost province, describing the incident as an example of increasing pressure on independent media in Afghanistan.

According to reports, the journalists were detained by officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice while covering a book exhibition in Khost city. Their cameras and other equipment were confiscated, and they were taken to the ministry’s local office for several hours. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) said the journalists had been covering the exhibition at the invitation of the Taliban’s Information and Culture Department.

The AFJC said the detentions were linked to Taliban restrictions on publishing images of living beings. The journalists were later released, although the incident disrupted their coverage of the public event.

RSF described the action as “repressive” and called on the Taliban to stop targeting journalists for carrying out their professional duties and to respect media freedom.