Press Statement

Afghanistan: Journalist sentenced on anti-regime charges

14 Jan, 2025

Journalist Mahdi Ansary was sentenced to eighteen months in prison by a Kabul court on January 8 for allegedly collaborating with ‘anti-Taliban’ media and ‘spreading propaganda’ against the group. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Afghan Independent Journalists Union (AIJU) condemn the sentencing and urge the Taliban to drop all charges and ensure his immediate release.

Afghan News Agency journalist Mahdi Ansary was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a Kabul court on January 8 for “anti-regime propaganda”, following his arrest on October 5, 2024. Credit: Facebook

On January 8, Afghan News Agency (AFKA) reporter Mahdi Ansary was sentenced to eighteen months in prison by a Kabul court, for allegedly collaborating with the anti-Taliban media and spreading propaganda against the regime.

Ansary was arrested by the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul on October 5, 2024 on unknown charges. The journalist was reported missing by his family on the same day, after he was last seen leaving the outlet’s office in Pul-e-Khushk. The Taliban Intelligence Agency informed the family of Ansary’s detention that evening, saying the reporter’s arrest was related to allegedly anti-Taliban videos posted on his personal YouTube channel. One video in particular included a speech by Shia cleric Ayatollah Waez Behsoudi who criticised the Taliban on recently enacted morality laws and demolition of the Hazara leader’s statue in Kabul.

This was not the first time Ansary was held in custody by the Taliban, with the journalist detained on October 2023 for a Facebook post citing a report published by the AFKA on the first anniversary of a suicide attack against a Hazara Education Centre in Kabul on September 30, 2022.

In a separate incident, on January 9, Ariana News TV reporter Najib Faryad was allegedly robbed by unidentified gunmen in the Balkh province of Mazar-e-Sharif. According to Mujib Rahman Baheer, the head of Ariana News, those responsible stole the journalist’s filming and reporting equipment.

Since the Taliban’s ascent to power on August 15, 2021, journalists and media workers have witnessed the closure of more than half its media outlets and increases in unlawful arrests, arbritary detentions, harassment, and violence.

The AIJU said: “Efforts are underway to reduce Ansari’s sentence in the next court hearing.”

The IFJ said: “Journalists in Afghanistan continue to face immense challenges, with journalists subject to arrests, violence and harassment as the Taliban solidify control.  The IFJ calls on the Taliban to cease the arbritary detention of media professionals, and urge the international community to advocate for the full exercise of media freedoms and freedom of association in Afghanistan.”

Written By

IFJ Asia-Pacific IFJ Asia-Pacific

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0946
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