Afghanistan women’s group backs campaign to free detained journalists

Afghanistan Women’s Movement for Justice has expressed support for a campaign calling for the release of detained journalists, voicing deep concern over their conditions.

In a statement, the group said journalism is a legitimate and lawful profession that should not be treated as a crime, urging an immediate end to arrests and pressure on media workers.

The movement stressed that freeing detained journalists is essential to protecting truth and the public’s right to information, and called on the United Nations and global human rights bodies to take urgent action.

Several journalists, including Shakib Nazari, Abuzar Sarem, Hamid Farhadi and Bashir Hatef, are among those reported to be in detention.

Advocacy efforts have intensified in recent weeks, with exiled Afghan journalists launching a campaign demanding their unconditional release.

Since Taliban took power in 2021, the press freedom in Afghanistan has faced increasing restrictions, with multiple reports of detentions, censorship, and restrictions on independent media.

Rights groups say several detained journalists have been sentenced to prison terms over alleged links to foreign or independent media outlets, raising concerns about due process and freedom of expression.

The growing campaign reflects mounting concern among civil society and media advocates over the safety of journalists.

Calls for international intervention continue to intensify, as pressure builds for concrete steps to secure the release of detained reporters and safeguard press freedoms.

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