Afghan reporter detained and beaten by Islamic Emirate Forces

Situation of media houses is not good in Afghanistan after Taliban took over the regime. A reporter from Kabul times claims to be detained and beaten by Islamic Emirate forces while covering a story.

Rashed the reporter has worked in various Afghan media outlets for more than nine years and he is still working as a reporter for Kabul-based media.

“They tied my hands and took me somewhere, I do not know where it was. They started the investigation saying ‘where are you working?’ and such questions. I replied, ‘I am a reporter,’” said Sayed Rashed Kashifi.

He added that the Islamic Emirate forces confiscated the equipment he was using to produce the report.

Rashed urged officials to probe the incident.

“I am asking the government to investigate my case and to pay attention to providing security of journalists,” said Kashifi.

“The beating of a journalist while covering news reports is a violation and a sign of imposed restrictions on access to information; this issue is worrying for the National Association of Journalists,” said Masroor Lutfi, head of the National Association of Journalists.

Meanwhile, officials at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said they will assess the incident, and that the government is committed to preventing the harassment of journalists.

“The case of the Kabul Times’ reporter, Sayed Rashed Kashifi, is under investigation; the Islamic Emirate is committed to the safety of journalists,” said Ozam, deputy spokesman of the MoI.

The National Association of Journalists reported earlier that “at least 30 cases of violations against journalists” were recorded since the Islamic Emirate’s takeover, and “90% of the violations were carried out by Islamic Emirate forces.”