JOURNALISTS DETAINED AND JAILED IN SOUTH ASIA
May 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022
Police personnel detain a protester during the ‘Neyva Holhiah’ mass rally organised by the opposition coalition, in Malé on March 25, 2022. Journalists often came under fire for their reporting on authorities’ treatment of protestors across South Asia. Credit: Mohamed Afrah / AFP
The IFJ documented 131 cases of journalists detained or jailed in South Asia from May 2021 to April 2022, a dramatic increase on the 63 arrests recorded in the previous reporting period. As we publish this report, 30 journalists remain behind bars – too many awaiting trial. The longest serving is Kashmiri journalist Aasif Sultan, first arrested in 2018, and released on April 5, only to be arrested again on April 10. Across the region, journalists were most likely to be arrested or detained for a day or less – but this year’s figure of 44 detainments under 24 hours was more than double the previous year. Among the detained, included 10 women journalists.
The Taliban takeover in August 2021 saw the arrest and detainment of journalists and media workers in Afghanistan increase tenfold. The country had 57 arrests, with detainments ranging from 20 minutes to months. This was severe decline in the safety situation for journalists, from just four arrests the year prior. Many journalists were detained by the Taliban for “propagandising against Afghanistan’s national interest”. The year was especially volatile for journalists with the Taliban targeted those seen as going against the regime and its ideology. Nematullah Naqdi and Taqi Daryabi, for example, were detained simply for reporting on a women’s protest in Kabul. A frequent occurrence was the assault on journalists, either before or during their detainment and interrogation. Zahidullah Husainkhil, director for Radio Mahaal, was pulled from his car and beaten by Taliban forces before being detained. While Ariana News journalists Aslam Hijab and Waris Hasrat were handcuffed and had their heads covered by sacks before Taliban members forced them inside of a vehicle.
India once again saw a growing number of journalists being harassed and detained for reporting on social and political issues in India, with a total of 34 journalists detained during the IFJ’s reporting period. The most prominent case this year was the arrest of Fahad Shah, editor-in-chief at The Kashmir Wallah. Shah was arrested three times in the reporting period, all on separate occasions, in connection with a series of reports published by The Kashmir Wallah. The arrests of Fahad Shah reflect the increasingly volatile environment for journalists in the country, especially relating to Kashmir. Kashmiri Journalist Aasif Sultan was rearrested on April 10 and booked under Jammu and Kashmir’s Public Safety Act (PSA). Sultan. Sultan had only been released five days earlier, after a previous arrest in 2018. His case reflects the draconian nature of India’s PSA, which enables journalists to be held for up to two years without a formal charge. As this report is published, three Kashmiri journalists have been detained under this act; Fahad Sha, Aasif Sultan, and Sajad Gul, who was arrested in January. Digital repression also continued to rise in the country, with journalist Nilesh Sharma arrested for publishing political satires that allegedly criticised the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh government.
The number of journalists detainments in Nepal during the reporting period continued to drop from last year, with only two journalists in custody but still taking third place in journalist detainments at 11 cases. Anish Tamang and Durga Lal Tamang, both journalists for Ujyaalo Network, were arrested under Nepal’s Electronic Transaction Act for allegedly publishing “fake news” about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The journalists were released after 12 days.
In Sri Lanka, 10 arrests and detainments were reported. Two journalists who were arrested in the last reporting period remained in custody. Wimal Raj and Mugunthan Divanya, both web journalists for TubeTamil, were arrested in March 2021 by the Sri Lankan Terrorist Investigation Division (TID).
Pakistan logged 9 cases, with prominent journalist Moshin Jamil Baig, affiliated with the Daily Jinnah and Online News Agency, arrested by cybercrime police after a federal minister launched a complaint against him. Officials raided Baig’s home before transferring him to prison. In December, Faysal Majeeb, a photographer at Dawn magazine was assaulted and terribly beaten by rangers in Karachi. He was allegedly detained for over an hour before being released.
In Bangladesh, the consequences of the Digital Security Act (DSA) were felt again by journalists this reporting period and 8 arrests documented. Khalilur Rahman, a journalist for Dainik Janata, was detained for a Facebook post he made that allegedly defamed local government ministers. Arrests were also made on journalists for ‘defaming’ government officials. Among them, Md Akhtaruzzaman and Al Amin Hossain were both arrested for publishing reports that critiqued local ministers and MPs’. Female journalists in Bangladesh were also subjected to attacks by the government with investigative journalist Rozina Islam detained and harassed in a minister’s room for allegedly stealing information and taking photographs of ministry documents.
On World Press Freedom Day 2022, 30 journalists remain behind bars. This number is a harrowing reminder that freedom of speech is not guaranteed, and that the fight to ensure press freedom and the safety of journalists continues to persist.
TOTAL JAILED OR DETAINED:
Died in custody: 0
Currently in jail: 30
Detained for more than one week: 14
Detained for less than one week: 8
Detained for one day or less: 44
TOTAL: 131
*Women jailed or detained: 10
TOTAL JAILED OR DETAINED BY COUNTRY IN SOUTH ASIA:
Afghanistan: 57
Bangladesh: 8
Bhutan: 0
Nepal: 11
India: 34
Maldives: 0
Pakistan: 9
Sri Lanka: 10
HIGHEST NUMBER OF DETAINMENT TYPES BY COUNTRY IN SOUTH ASIA:
Detained for more than one week: India and Bangladesh – 5 cases each
Detained for less than one week: Afghanistan – 6 cases
Detained for one day or less: Afghanistan and India – 14 cases each
Detained in Afghanistan – status unknown: 13 cases
JAILED JOURNALISTS – CURRENTLY IN JAIL
AFGHANISTAN
Name: Muhammad Iqbal Mengal
Gender: Male
Detained: August 26, 2021
Job: Reporter, 92 News
Accusation: Mengal is suspected of being detained by the Taliban following the Kabul airport bombing on August 26, where Mengal was reporting live to air at the bomb site.
Status: Mengal remains missing, presumed jailed. According to his family, Mengal’s phone has been out of reach since his live coverage.
BANGLADESH
Name: Ruhul Amin Gazi
Gender: Male
Detained: October 21, 2020
Job: Chief reporter, Daily Sangram
Accusation:Police alleged Gazi, along with Sadat Hossain, failed to appear in a number of court hearings in a sedition case filed under the Digital Security Act.
Status: Currently in jail. Gazi’s case in pending.
Name: Nur Mohammad
Gender: Male
Detained: 10 February, 2021
Job: Owner, Guardian Publications
Accusation: Arrested by the police at his home in Dhaka on charges of associating with suspects. He is accused of spreading fake news about the prime minister and her son.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Country: Bangladesh
Name: Khalilur Rahman
Gender: Male
Detained: May 11, 2021
Job: Journalist, Dainik Janata
Accusation: Rahman was arrested under Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act (DSA) for posting alleged defamatory remarks on Facebook made on May 9 against an incumbent councillor of Nalchity municipality Shahidul Islam, as well as the mayor of the municipality, Wahed Khan.
Status: Rahman was brought to court on May 11. The judge rejected his bail plea, and he was sent to jail the same day.
INDIA
Name: Anand Teltumbde
Gender: Male
Detained: April 14, 2020
Job: Columnist and writer
Accusation: Authorities accused Teltumbde and columnist Gautam Navlakha of being responsible for violence that erupted in the Pune district of Maharashtra state on December 31, 2017, and having links to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Status: Currently in Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai. Teltumbde was granted permission to see his mother on March 10, 2022, but was escorted back to prison the following day.
Name: Gautam Navlakha
Gender: Male
Detained: Arrested April 14, 2020
Job: Columnist, Newsclick, and formerly editorial consultant, Economic and Political Weekly
Accusation: Authorities accused Navlakha of being responsible for violence that erupted in the Pune district of Maharashtra state on December 31, 2017, and having links to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Status: Refused bail by the Supreme court on May 12, 2021. Currently in a high security cell in Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai.
Name: Siddique Kappan
Gender: Male
Detained: October 5, 2020
Job: Journalist, Malayalam news portal
Accusation: Kappan was on his way to Hathras to report the gang rape of a Dalit girl when he was picked up in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. He and three others accompanying him were booked under Section 17 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly instigating communal violence.
Status: Currently in jail. In November 2021, Kappan was transferred from Mathura Jail to Lucknow Jail.
Name: Salman Shah
Gender: Male
Detained: October 12, 2021
Job: Editor, Kashmir First
Accusation: Shah was detained after a raid of his residence on the night of October 12. Shah and freelance journalist Suhail Dar were accused of disturbing the public peace and charged under sections 107 and 151 of the Indian Penal Code.
Status: Currently in jail. Both Shah and Suhail Dar were moved to Anantnag Jail on October 14, 2021.
Name: Suhail Dar
Gender: Male
Detained: October 8, 2021
Job: Freelance journalist
Accusation: Dar and Kashmir First editor, Salman Shah, were accused of disturbing the public peace and charged under sections 107 and 151 of the Indian Penal Code.
Status: Currently in jail. Both Dar and Salman Shah were moved to Anantnag Jail on October 14, 2021.
Name: Fahad Shah
Gender: Male
Detained: February 4 2022
Job: Editor-in-chief, The Kashmir Walla
Accusation: Shah was summoned by Pulwama district police as part of an investigation into a series of news reports The Kashmir Walla published on a police raid in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Status: Shah was granted bail on February 26 after 22 days in custody. On March 7, Shah was arrested again under the PSA. He is currently in jail and is being held at Kupwara Jail.
Name: Sajjad Gul
Gender:Male
Detained:January 16, 2022
Job: Reporter, Kashmir Walla
Accusation: Gul was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir authorities under India’s Public Safety Act and is accused of using social media to provoke people against the government.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Nilesh Sharma
Gender: Male
Detained: March 2, 2022
Job: Editor, Indiawriters.co.in
Accusation: Sharma was arrested by the Raipur’s cyber police for political satire that was allegedly critical of the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh government.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Aasif Sultan
Gender: Male
Detained: April 10, 2022 (rearrested five days after being released, previously incarcerated for nearly four years from August 27, 2018)
Job: Journalist, Kashmir Narrator
Accusation: Sultan, who was granted bail on April 5 after spending almost four years in prison under India’s ‘anti-terror’ act, was rearrested and booked under Jammu and Kashmir’s Public Safety Act (PSA). Sultan was earlier charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for publishing a feature story in July 2018 on the second anniversary of the death of the young Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani, a killing that sparked months of strife on the streets.
Status: Currently in jail. Sultan remains in Jammu’s Kot Bhalwal Jail.
Name: Fahad Shah
Gender: Male
Detained: February 4, 2022
Job: Journalist, The Kashmir Wallah
Accusation: Shah was re-arrested by Pulwama police under India’s sedition law.
Status: Currently in jail.
Name: Ajit Ojha
Gender: Male
Detained: March 30, 2022
Job: Journalist, Amar Ujala,
Accusation: Ojha and Digvijay Singh, as well as Manoj Gupta are arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police after breaking news about a school exam question leak.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Digvijay Singh
Gender: Male
Detained: March 30, 2022
Job: Journalist, Amar Ujala,
Accusation: Singh and Ajit Ojha, as well as Manoj Gupta, are arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police after breaking news about a school exam question leak.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Manoj Gupta
Gender: Male
Detained: March 30, 2022
Job: Journalist, Rashtriya Sahara
Accusation: Gupta, as well as Ajit Ojha and Digvijay Singh, are arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police after breaking news about a school exam question leak.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
NEPAL
Name: Pradip Bhandari
Gender: Male
Detained: September 30, 2021
Job: Journalist, Dainik Khabar
Accusation: Bhandari, along with Sishir Adhikari, Pinkala Karki, and Rodhan Tamang were arrested by the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police under Nepal’s Electronic Transaction Act.
Status: Currently in jail
Name: Sishir Adhikari
Gender: Male
Detained: September 30, 2021
Job: Journalist, Harekpal Khabar
Accusation: Adhikari, along with Pradip Bhandari, Pinkala Karki, and Rodhan Tamang are arrested by the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police under Nepal’s Electronic Transaction Act.
Status: Currently in jail
Name: Pinkala Karki
Gender: Male
Detained: September 30, 2021
Job: Journalist, Saraichuli
Accusation: Karki, along with Pradip Bhandari, Sishir Adhikari, and Rodhan Tamang are arrested by the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police under Nepal’s Electronic Transaction Act.
Status: Currently in jail
Name: Rodhan Tamang
Gender: Male
Detained:September 30, 2021
Job: Journalist, Modern Online TV
Accusation: Tamang, along with Pradip Bhandari, Sishir Adhikari, and Pinkala Karki, are arrested by the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police under Nepal’s Electronic Transaction Act.
Status: Currently in jail
Name: Umakanta Pandey
Gender: Male
Detained: February 15, 2022
Job: Journalist, Ujyaalo Radio Network
Accusation: Pandey was arrested under cybercrime charges following a statement he published on Facebook accusing the Nepali embassy in the UAE of wrongdoing in regard to Visit Visas in the UAE.
Status: A Dubai court sentenced Pandey to three months in prison. Currently in jail at time of publication.
SRI LANKA
Name: Mugunthan Divanya
Gender: Female
Detained: March 29, 2021
Job: Web journalist, YouTube channel ‘TubeTamil’
Accusation: The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) arrested Divanya for “operating a website and a YouTube channel promoting the LTTE and related terrorism activities”. She was charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) Regulations No. 1 of 2011
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Wimal Raj
Gender: Male
Detained: March 29, 2021
Job: Web journalist, YouTube channel ‘TubeTamil’
Accusation: The Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) arrested Raj for “operating a website and a YouTube channel promoting the LTTE and related terrorism activities”. He was charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) Regulations No. 1 of 2011
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Avanka Kumara
Gender: Male
Detained: March 31, 2022
Job: Journalist, Sirasa TV
Accusation: Kumara and Chatura Deshan, of Sirasa TV, as well as journalists Sumedha Sanjeewa Gallage, Pradeep Wickramasinghe, and Nissanka Werapitiya, and Waruna Wanniarachchi were among those arrested and assaulted while reporting on the protests outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Chatura Deshan
Gender: Male
Detained: March 31, 2022
Job: Journalist, Sirasa TV
Accusation: Deshan and Avanka Kumara from Sirasa TV, as well as journlaists Sumedha Sanjeewa Gallage, Pradeep Wickramasinghe, and Nissanka Werapitiya, and Waruna Wanniarachchi were among those arrested and assaulted while reporting on the protests outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Sumedha Sanjeewa Gallage
Gender: Male
Detained: March 31, 2022
Job: Journalist, Derana TV
Accusation: Gallage, Pradeep Wickramasinghe, and Nissanka Werapitiya, all of Derana TV, as well as journalists Avanka Kumara, Chatura Deshan, and Waruna Wanniarachchi, were among those arrested and assaulted while reporting on the protests outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Pradeep Wickramasinghe
Gender: Male
Detained: March 31, 2022
Job: Journalist, Derana TV
Accusation: Wickramasinghe, Sumedha Sanjeewa Gallage and Nissanka Werapitiya, of Derana TV, as well as journalists Avanka Kumara, Chatura Deshan, and Waruna Wanniarachchi, were among those arrested and assaulted while reporting on the protests outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Nissanka Werapitiya
Gender: Male
Detained: March 31, 2022
Job: Journalist, Derana TV
Accusation: Werapitiya, Sumedha Sanjeewa Gallage and Pradeep Wickramasinghe, of Derana TV, as well as journalists Avanka Kumara, Chatura Deshan, and Waruna Wanniarachchi, were among those arrested and assaulted while reporting on the protests outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
Name: Bandara
Gender: Male
Detained: March 31, 2022
Job: Journalist, Lankadeepa Newspapers
Accusation: Wanniarachchi, as well as journalists Nissanka Werapitiya, Sumedha Sanjeewa Gallage, Pradeep Wickramasinghe, Avanka Kumara, and Chatura Deshan, were among those arrested and assaulted while reporting on the protests outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana.
Status: Still detained at time of publication
JOURNALISTS JAILED FOR MORE THAN ONE WEEK
AFGHANISTAN
Country: Afghanistan
Name: Khalil Fitri
Gender: Female
Detained: December 21, 2021
Job: Journalist, Pajhwok Afghan News
Accusation: Fitri was arrested by Afghanistan’s provincial intelligence department on alleged money laundering charges.
Status: Released on January 9, 2022, after three weeks of detention.
BANGLADESH
Name: Abu Tayyab
Gender: Male
Detained: April 20, 2021
Job: Senior television journalist
Accusation: Arrested by police under the Digital Security Act for writing social media posts about alleged corruption.
Status: Tayyab was released on bail. His case is pending.
Name: Sadat Hossain
Gender: Male
Detained: October 2020
Job: Acting news editor, Daily Sangram
Accusation: Police alleged Hossain, along with Ruhul Amin Gazi, failed to appear in a number of court hearings in the sedition case under the Digital Security Act.
Status: Released on bail on August 2021. His case is pending.
Name: Al Amin Hossain
Gender: Male
Detained: May 22 2021
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Hossain was arrested at his residence at Banshbaria in Gangni municipality for a case that was filed against him on May 13, 2020, by Sabuj Hossain, the nephew of the Gangni-2 constituency MP, Maqbool Hossain, that contended he had published a false news report against the MP in 2020.
Status: Released on bail. His case is still running.
Name: Md Akhtaruzzaman
Gender: Male
Detained: July 18 2021
Job: Correspondent, Banijjo Pratidin
Accusation: Akhtaruzzaman was arrested following a complaint filed by the Bogura Sadar Police Station on July 17 over a Facebook Post that accused the Bogura Sadar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer and his office’s head assistant and accountant of embezzling money.
Status: Released on bail. His case is still running in court.
Name: Rozina Islam
Gender: Female
Detained: May 17 2021
Job: Journalist, Prothom Alo
Accusation: Islam was harassed, confined in a room of a personal assistant of the secretary of the Ministry of Health for allegedly stealing information and taking photographs of ministry documents.
Status: Released on bail after seven days. Her passport and ID are still in police custody. Her case is pending.
INDIA
Name: Sunil Brar
Gender: Male
Detained: September 16, 2021
Job: Correspondent, Banijjo Pratidin
Accusation: A ‘factual error’ on the location of a suspected terrorist’s arrest in a Dainik Bashkar news report led to the arrest of editor, Sandeep Sharma, and reporter Brar by Haryana state police.
Status: Released on bail
Name: Madhukar Dubey
Gender: Male
Detained: October 25, 2021
Job: Journalist, zeroparty.in
Accusation: Dubey and technical assistant Avinash Palliwar were arrested after two members of the state’s legislative assembly, filed a complaint accusing the web portal of extortion and for publishing “misleading and baseless” information about them.
Status: Held in judicial custody for 14 days, in the Civil Lines Police Station in Raipur.
Name: Avinash Palliwar
Gender: Male
Detained: October 25, 2021
Job: Technical assistant, zeroparty.in
Accusation: Palliwar and journalist Madhukar Dubey were arrested after two members of the state’s legislative assembly, filed a complaint accusing the portal of extortion and for publishing “misleading and baseless” information about them.
Status: Held in judicial custody for 14 days, in the Civil Lines Police Station in Raipur.
Name: Samriddhi Sakunia
Gender: Female
Detained: November 15, 2021
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Sakunia and Swarna Jha were detained in Assam after a reporting trip in Tripura for HW News network. The journalists were brought back and arrested in Tripura state for alleged criminal conspiracy and spreading of communal hatred.
Status: Released on bail
Name: Swarna Jha
Gender: Female
Detained: November 15, 2021
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Jha and Samriddhi Sakunia were detained in Assam after their reporting trip in Tripura HW News network. The journalists were brought back and arrested in Tripura state for alleged criminal conspiracy and spreading of communal hatred.
Status: Released on bail
NEPAL
Name: Anish Tamang
Gender: Male
Detained: April 25, 2021
Job: Journalist Ujyaalo Network
Accusation: Arrested on charges related to sedition and the Electronic Transaction Act for allegedly publishing fake news on about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Status: Tamang and Durga Lal Tamang were detained for 12 days. They were released on May 6, 2021, and the case was withdrawn.
Name: Durga Lal Tamang
Gender: Male
Detained: April 25, 2021
Job: Journalist, Ujyaalo Network
Accusation: Arrested on charges related to sedition and the Electronic Transaction Act for allegedly publishing fake news about Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Status: Tamang and Anish Tamang were detained for 12 days. They were both released on May 6, 2021, and the case was withdrawn.
PAKISTAN
Country: Pakistan
Name: Moshin Jamil Baig
Gender: Male
Detained: February 16, 2022
Job: Editor, Daily Jinnah & Online News Agency
Accusation: Baig’s residence was stormed by the Federal Investigation Agency for an alleged cybercrime complaint lodged by the Federal Minister for Communications, Murad Saeed. Baig was later apprehended by Islamabad police.
Status: Released from prison after being granted post arrest bail from Anti-Terrorist Court in Islamabad on March 14.
JOURNALISTS DETAINED FOR LESS THAN ONE WEEK
AFGHANISTAN
Country: Afghanistan
Name: Abdul Mateen Achakzai
Gender: Male
Detained: August 25, 2021
Job: Reporter, Khyber TV
Accusation: Detained with Muhammad Ali by the Taliban for allegedly not getting the Taliban’s approval to report in Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan. The journalists’ phones were confiscated and they were interrogated at an unknown location.
Status: Both released on August 27
Name: Muhummad Ali
Gender: Male
Detained: August 25, 2021
Job: Reporter, Khyber TV
Accusation: Detained with Abdul Mateen Achakzai for allegedly not getting the Taliban’s approval to report in Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan. The journalists’ phones were confiscated and they were interrogated them at an unknown location.
Status: Both released on August 27
Name: Mohammad Arif Noori
Gender: Male
Detained: December 27, 2021
Job: Journalist, Noorin TV
Accusation: Noori was taken from his home in Kabul by Taliban forces without a warrant and was transferred to an unknown location.
Status: Released after two days
Name: Haji Arif Noori
Gender: Male
Detained: December 26, 2021
Job: Owner, Noorin Television
Accusation: The Taliban raided and searched journalist Noori’s home in Kabul’s Karte Parwan area before taking him to an unknown location.
Status: Released after two days
Name: Sahel Mangal
Gender: Male
Detained: December 22, 2021
Job: Correspondent, Pajhwok Afghan News
Accusation: Mangal was detained by the Paktia Intelligence Department. Authorities allege the arrest was for non-media related issues.
Status: Released after six days
Name: Waris Hasrat
Gender: Male
Detained: January 31, 2022
Job: Journalist, Ariana News
Accusation: Hasrat was detained after he inquired about the reason for Aslam Hijab’s detention. Members of the Taliban handcuffed the two journalists and covered their heads with sacks, before forcing them inside a vehicle.
Status: Released
INDIA
Name: Gaurav Bansal
Gender: Male
Detained: March 15, 2022
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Bansal was detained by Etmadulla police for reporting on alleged electoral malpractice during the recent Uttar Pradesh elections. Police raided the journalists’ home and allegedly tortured him while he was in custody.
Status: Released on bail on March 21
PAKISTAN
Country: Pakistan
Name: Muhammad Bilal Ghauri
Gender: Male
Detained: June 22, 2021
Job: Journalist, Daily Jang
Accusation: The Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre summon Ghauri for alleged defamatory remarks made through his YouTube channel.
Status: Released after three days.
JOURNALISTS DETAINED 24 HOURS OR LESS
AFGHANISTAN
Name: Waheed Ahmadi
Gender: Male
Detained: September 7 2021
Job: Cameraperson, Tolo News
Accusation: Ahmadi, along with Sami Jahesh, were arrested during their coverage of the anti-Pakistan protests. Ahmadi was handcuffed and had his camera seized by Taliban militants before being detained at the Taliban military headquarters in Kabul.
Status: Released after around three hours
Name: Sami Jahesh
Gender: Male
Detained: September 7 2021
Job: Correspondent, Ariana News
Accusation: Jahesh, along with Waheed Ahmadi, were arrested during their coverage of the anti-Pakistan protests.
Status: Released within a day
Name: Zahidullah Husainkhil
Gender: Male
Detained: October 28, 2021
Job: Director, Radio Mahaal
Accusation: Husainkhil was pulled from his car by Taliban forces who assaulted and detained him.
Status: Held in a local police station and released after three hours
Name: Shakib Shams
Gender: Male
Detained: August 1, 2021
Job: Reporter, Salam Watandar
Accusation: Taliban militants fired on the car of Shams and Storio Karimi as they reported on fighting between Afghan National Security Forces and Taliban militants. After militants shot at the car, the journalists were taken to the militant’s self-proclaimed district governor. It is alleged that Taliban leaders questioned the journalists, checked their contacts and mobile calls.
Status: Released after 20 minutes
Name: Storio Karimi
Gender: Female
Detained: August 1, 2021
Job: Journalist, Pajhwok Afghan News
Accusation: Taliban militants fired on the car of Karimi and Salam Watandar as they reported on fighting between Afghan National Security Forces and Taliban militants. After militants shot at the car, the journalists were taken to the militant’s self-proclaimed district governor. It is alleged that Taliban leaders questioned the journalists, checked their contacts and mobile calls.
Status: Released after 20 minutes
Name: Sayed Rashed Kashefi
Gender: Male
Detained: December 11, 2021
Job: Reporter, Kabul Times
Accusation: Kashefi was allegedly beaten up while covering a fight at an aid distribution site in Kabul’s 5th district. Abdul Matin Rahimzai, director of the Taliban administered Kabul Directorate of Refugee Affairs, and his bodyguards stopped Kashefi as he filmed a scuffle between one bodyguard and several female aid recipients. His hands were tied and he was taken to the office of the Directorate of Refugee Affairs, where he was interrogated about the motive of the recording.
Status: Detained for approximately six hours before being released
Name: Faisal Nouri
Gender: Male
Detained: December 19, 2021
Job: Journalist, Peshgo News Agency | Shabnam Radio
Accusation: Taliban officials arrest Nouri for unspecified reasons. They later called Nouri’s arrest a ‘misunderstanding’.
Status: Released after six hours
Name: Habibullah Sarab
Gender: Male
Detained: December 22, 2021
Job: Reporter, Ettelaat-e-Rooz
Accusation: Sadid was arrested by the Paktia Intelligence Department.
Status: Released after about an hour.
Name: Shapoor Farahmand
Gender: Male
Detained: December 28 2021
Job: Journalist, Ariana News
Accusation: Detained by the Taliban while returning home. He was interrogated and his phone checked.
Status: Released after two hours
Name: Sayed Ahmad Mousavi
Gender: Male
Detained: December 30, 2021
Job: Reporter, Tamadon TV
Accusation: Mousavi was detained by the Amina governor. His camera was confiscated a week later.
Status: Released within 24 hours
Name: Marza Hussain Sadid
Gender: Female
Detained: December 21, 2021
Job: Journalist, Virma Investigation News Agency
Accusation: Sadid was arrested in Kabul’s District 13 while distributing aid materials to families. Authorities later called her arrest a misunderstanding.
Status: Released after about an hour
Name: Andrew North
Gender: Male
Detained: February 11, 2022
Job: Correspondent, BBC News
Accusation: Alongside another unnamed foreign journalist, North was detained by the Taliban while on assignment in Kabul for the UN Refugee Agency.
Status: Released after a few hours
Name: Bahram Aman
Gender: Male
Detained: March 17, 2022
Job: News presenter, TOLOnews
Accusation: Arrested and detained by the Taliban along with TOLOnews manager Khaplwak Safi and a TOLOnews legal advisor after the news station reported on the Taliban’s ban of foreign drama programs. The journalists were held in the TOLOnews headquarters in Kabul before allegedly being transferred to an unknown location.
Status: Kept in custody for 21 hours and released on March 18
Name: Khaplwak Safi
Gender: Male
Detained: March 17, 2022
Job: News manager, TOLOnews
Accusation: Taliban militants arrested and detained Safi, as well as Bahram Aman and a TOLOnews legal advisor Nafay Khaleeq, after the news station reported on the Taliban’s ban of foreign drama programs. Taliban forces held the journalists in the TOLOnews headquarters in Kabul before being transferred to an unknown location.
Status: Released after a few hours of questioning
INDIA
Name: Pranjal Pandey
Gender: Male
Detained: June 30, 2021
Job: Editor, Newsclick
Accusation: Pandey, and Prebir Purkayastha, were questioned about their tax filings, transactions, contracts and syndicated content by India’s Income Tax Department.
Status: Released after five hours of questioning
Name: Prebir Purkayastha
Gender: Male
Detained: June 30, 2021
Job: Editor-in-chief, Newsclick
Accusation: Purkayastha and Pranjal Pandey were questioned about their tax filings, transactions, contracts and syndicated content by India’s Income Tax Department.
Status: Released after five hours of questioning
Name: Shristhi Jatav
Gender: Female
Detained: August 25, 2021
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Jadav was detained by New Delhi police while covering the demolition of a slum colony for Dalit Times. The video footage of her reporting was deleted.
Status: Released after three hours
Name: Showkat Motta
Gender: Male
Detained: September 8, 2021
Job: Editor, Kashmir Narrator
Accusation: Motta, along with Hilal Mir, Azhar Qadri, and Abbas Shah all had their documents and electronic equipment seized by Jammu and Kashmir authorities.
Status: Taken to a local police station in Srinagar and held for one day
Name: Hilal Mir
Gender: Male
Detained: September 8, 2021
Job: Reporter, TRT World
Accusation: Mir, along with Showkat Motta, Azhar Qadri, and Abbas Shah all had their documents and electronic equipment seized by Jammu and Kashmir authorities.
Status: Taken to a local police station in Srinagar and held for one day
Name: Azhar Qadri
Gender: Male
Detained: September 8, 2021
Job: Freelance journalist
Accusation: Qadri, along with Showkat Motta, Hilal Mir, and Abbas Shah, all had their documents and electronic equipment seized by Jammu and Kashmir authorities.
Status: Taken to a local police station in Srinagar and held for one day
Name: Abbas Shah
Gender: Male
Detained: September 8, 2021
Job: Freelance journalist
Accusation: Shah, along with Showkat Motta, Hilal Mir, and Azhar Qadri, all had their documents and electronic equipment seized by Jammu and Kashmir authorities.
Status: Taken to a local police station in Srinagar and held for one day
Name: Mukhtar Zahoor
Gender: Male
Detained: October 13, 2021
Job: Photojournalist
Accusation: Zahoor was detained by armed officials and the police force in a midnight raid of his residence in Srinagar. He was detained and questioned overnight.
Status: Released on October 14 at around 2pm
Name: Majid Hyderi
Gender: Male
Detained: October 13 2021
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Hyderi was summoned for questioning by the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir police about his social media activities.
Status: Released the same day at 5pm
Name: Sajjad Gul
Gender: Male
Detained: October 13 2021
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Gul was summoned by Hajin police for questioning in relation to a news report and a video posted to his Twitter profile. Gul was also questioned about his journalism work.
Status: Released after one hour
Name: Samriddhi Sakunia
Gender: Female
Detained: November 15, 2021
Job: Journalist, HW News Network
Accusation: Sakunia and Swana Jha were detained for alleged criminal conspiracy following a complaint by Kanchan Das, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council). The women were hounded by police, first in Tripura, and then in Assam, both governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for allegedly disrupting communal harmony.
Status: Released after police questioning
Name: Swana Jha
Gender: Female
Detained: November 15, 2021
Job: Journalist, HW News Network
Accusation: Jha and Samriddhi Sakunia were detained for alleged criminal conspiracy following a complaint by Kanchan Das, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council). The women were hounded by police, first in Tripura, and then in Assam, both governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for allegedly disrupting communal harmony.
Status: Released after police questioning
Name: Majid Hyderi
Gender: Male
Detained: January 30, 2022
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Hyderi, along with Fahad Shah, was summoned for questioning by Jammu and Kashmir police for sharing social media post stating that a 17-year-old, who authorities claimed was a “hybrid militant”, was innocent.
Status: Held at the police station for a day
Name: Fahad Shah
Gender: Male
Detained: January 30, 2022
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Shah, along with Majid Hyderi, was summoned for questioning by Jammu and Kashmir police for sharing social media post stating that a 17-year-old, who authorities claimed was a “hybrid militant”, was innocent.
Status: Held at the police station for a day
NEPAL
Name: Rajan Kuikel
Gender: Male
Detained: May 25, 2021
Job: Chief Editor, Imagekhabar
Accusation: Kuikel and Narayan Amrit are summoned by the Supreme Court and interrogated for publishing “fake and misleading” news about Nepal’s prime minister.
Status: Released after being interrogated for 45 minutes.
Name: Narayan Amrit
Gender: Male
Detained: May 25, 2021
Job: Editor-in-Chief, Nepal Samaya
Accusation: Amrit and Rajan Kuikel are summoned by the Supreme Court and interrogated for publishing “fake and misleading” news about Nepal’s prime minister.
Status: Released after being interrogated for 45 minutes.
Name: Paras Bikram Shahi
Gender: Male
Detained: June 17, 2021
Job: Editor, Dainiki
Accusation: Shahi was harassed and briefly detained by Nepal Police Sub-Inspector, Pratibha Singh, for allegedly failing to issue an identity card at the Department of Information.
Status: Released after a few hours
Name: Umesh Shrestha
Gender: Male
Detained: February 23, 2022
Job: Journalist, MySansar & Nepal Fact Check
Accusation: Officials from the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau in Kathmandu summon Shrestha under the pretence of a ‘discussion’. Upon his arrival, the journalist is harassed and accused him of spreading misinformation regarding the MCC fund, a United States subsidised fund aimed at improving infrastructure in Nepal.
Status: Questioned for an hour and a half before being released
SRI LANKA
Name: Punniyamoorthy Sasikaran
Gender: Male
Detained: September 14, 2021
Job: Freelance journalist
Accusation: Sasikaran was interrogated by Sri Lanka’s Special Crime Prevention Unit. The justification for his examination is not disclosed.
Status: Released after over an hour of questioning
PAKISTAN
Name: Zahid Jamro
Gender: Male
Detained: March 30, 2022
Job: Reporter, KTN Gambat
Accusation: Khairpur CIA police arrested Jamro in an allegedly fake First Information Report (FIR) case for reporting on illegal hunting collusion between Middle Eastern hunters and police.
Status: Released on bail.
Name: Iqrar-ul-Hassan
Gender: Male
Detained: February 15, 2022
Job: Journalist, ARY TV
Accusation: Detained at the office of Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) and allegedly severely tortured by five officials of the IB.
Status: Released after several hours
Name: Iqrar-ul-Hassan,
Gender: Male
Detained: February 15, 2022
Job: Journalist, ARY TV
Accusation: Detained at the office of Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) and severely tortured by five officials of the IB.
Status: Released after several hours.
Name: Faysal Majeeb
Gender: Male
Detained: December 9, 2021
Job: Photojournalist, Dawn Media Group
Accusation: Detained and beaten by rangers in Karachi whilst covering a Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) event.
Status: Released after about an hour
Name: Hidayat Ullah
Gender: Male
Detained: May 1, 2021
Job: Freelance journalist
Accusation: Held in illegal detention by the Bannu police for exposing the alleged involvement of the district administration in a sugar scam.
Status: Released after a few hours
Name: Sultan Rind
Gender: Male
Detained: July 20, 2021
Job: Freelance journalist
Accusation: Arrested by the staff of Sindh Minister Imtiaz Sheikh for running a story highlighting the use of substantial material for construction in a local development project.
Status: Released after a few hours
Name: Waris Raza
Gender: Male
Detained: September 23, 2021
Job: Columnist, Daily Jang
Accusation: Arrested and detained during a raid of his home by officials of the paramilitary force rangers.
Status: Released after several hours, following protests from the journalist community.
Name: Ahmed Nawaz
Gender: Male
Detained: July 6, 2021
Job: Reporter, Bol News TV
Accusation: Taken into custody and allegedly tortured by Sadiqabad police for reporting about alleged police high-handedness.
Status: Released after one day
Name: Ashfaqur Rehman
Gender: Male
Detained: August 7, 2021
Job: Online reporter, Googly News TV
Accusation: Rehman along with Mehmood Aslam was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged defamation of government authorities online.
Status: Released after one day
Name: Mehmood Aslam
Gender: Male
Detained: August 7, 2021
Job: Online reporter, Tellings with Imran Shafqat
Accusation: Aslam, along with Ashfaqur Rehman, was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for alleged defamation of government authorities online.
Status: Released after one day
JOURNALISTS DETAINED IN AFGHANISTAN - STATUS UNKNOWN
AFGHANISTAN
IFJ monitoring through its Afghanistan affiliates includes data on an extensive list of additional detainment cases in the country in 2021-22. Due to the ongoing challenges for verification on specific cases in the wake of the fall of Kabul, the following detainments remain unclear on the specific length of detainment but are documented for the record.
Name: Bismillah Watandoost
Gender: Male
Detained: July 26, 2021
Job: Reporter, Millat Zagh Radio
Accusation: Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) accused Watandoost of being involved in propagandising against Afghanistan’s national interest and of favouring Taliban militants
Status: Unknown
Name: Qudrat Soltani
Gender: Male
Detained: July 26, 2021
Job: Reporter, Millat Zagh Radio
Accusation: Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) accused Soltani of being involved in propagandising against Afghanistan’s national interest and of favouring Taliban militants
Status: Unknown
Name: Mujib Obaidi
Gender: Male
Detained: July 26, 2021
Job: Reporter, Millat Zagh Radio
Accusation: Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) accused Obaidi of being involved in propagandising against Afghanistan’s national interest and of favouring Taliban militants
Status: Unknown
Name: Sanaullah Siam
Gender: Male
Detained: July 26, 2021
Job: Cameraperson, Xinhua News Agency
Accusation: The Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) accused Siam of being involved in propagandising against Afghanistan’s national interest and of favouring Taliban militants
Status: Unknown
Name: Taqi Daryabi
Gender: Male
Detained: September 8, 2021
Job: Journalist, Etilaatroz
Accusation: Daryabi, along with Nematullah Naqdi, were arrested by Taliban actors while reporting on the women’s protest in the Kart-e-Char region of Western Kabul. While detained, Daryabi and Naqdi were beaten using sticks and cable wire.
Status: Unknown
Name: Nematullah Naqdi
Gender: Male
Detained: September 8, 2021
Job: Journalist, Etilaatroz
Accusation: Naqdi, along with Taqi Daryabi, were arrested by Taliban actors while reporting on the women’s protest in the Kart-e-Char region of Western Kabul. While detained, Daryabi and Naqdi were beaten using sticks and cable wire.
Status: Unknown
Name: Aslam Hijab
Gender: Male
Detained: January 31, 2022
Job: Journalist, Ariana News
Accusation: Taliban militants detained Hijab at the entrance of the Ariana News headquarters in District 3 of Kabul. Members of the Taliban handcuffed him and covered his head with a sack, before forcing him inside a vehicle.
Status: Unknown
Name: Farhad Behrooz
Gender: Male
Detained: September 6, 2021
Job: Reporter, Asia Press
Accusation: Unknown
Status: Unknown
Name: Qais Zaki
Gender: Male
Detained: February 16, 2022
Job: Journalist, Khavar TV
Accusation: Zaki, the former head of Khavar TV; Abbas Pouya, reporter for Rah-e-Farda TV; Zahedullah Samadzi, a reporter for Pakistan 92 TV; and Ahmad Basir Ahmadi, a correspondent for Ayna TV; were attacked and arrested by the Taliban in Kabul.
Status: Unknown
Name: Abbas Pouya
Gender: Male
Detained: February 16, 2022
Job: Reporter, Rah-e-Farda TV
Accusation: Pouya, as well as Qais Zaki, Zahedullah Samadzi, and Ahmad Basir Ahmadi, was attacked and arrested by the Taliban in Kabul.
Status: Unknown
Name: Zahedullah Samadzi
Gender: Male
Detained: February 16, 2022
Job: Reporter, Pakistan 92 TV
Accusation: Samadzi, as well as Abbas Pouya, Qais Zaki and Ahmad Basir Ahmadi, was attacked and arrested by the Taliban in Kabul.
Status: Unknown
Name: Ahmad Basir Ahmadi
Gender: Male
Detained: February 16, 2022
Job: Correspondent, Ayna TV
Accusation: Ahmadi, as well as Zahedullah Samadzi, Abbas Pouya and Qais Zak, was attacked and arrested by the Taliban in Kabul.
Status: Unknown
Name: Faisal Modaris
Gender: Male
Detained: January 6, 2022
Job: Online reporter, Kabul Lovers
Accusation: The Taliban detain Modaris as well as Idris Rahimi and Milad Azizi, of YouTube channel Kabul Lovers after the journalists covered protests in the Panjshir province. They were detained at a restaurant in the Shari Naw area of Kabul’s District 4.
Status: Unknown
Name: Idris Rahimi
Gender: Male
Detained: January 6, 2022
Job: Online reporter, Kabul Lovers
Accusation: The Taliban detain Rahimi, as well as Faisal Modaris and Milad Azizi, of YouTube channel Kabul Lovers after the journalists covered protests in the Panjshir province. They were detained at a restaurant in the Shari Naw area of Kabul’s District 4.
Status: Unknown
Name: Milad Azizi
Gender: Male
Detained: January 6, 2022
Job: Online reporter, Kabul Lovers
Accusation: The Taliban detain Milad Azizi, as well as Faisal Modaris and Idris Rahimi of YouTube channel Kabul Lovers after the journalist covered protests in the Panjshir province. The were detained at a restaurant in the Shari Naw area of Kabul’s District 4.
Status: Unknown
Name: Aminullah Samsour
Gender: Male
Detained: February 21, 2022
Job: Reporter, Sahar TV
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban in Kabul
Status: Unknown
Name: Seyed Ahmad Mousavi
Gender: Male
Detained: Unknown
Job: Reporter, Tamadon TV
Accusation: Detained by the Taliban in Bamyan.
Status: Unknown
Name: Shams Amani
Gender: Male
Detained: March 3, 2022
Job: Reporter, Noor TV
Accusation: Detained by Taliban officers in Kabul.
Status: Unknown
Name: Sayyaf Mohammadi
Gender: Male
Detained: March 16, 2022
Job: Senior media manager, Arezoo
Accusation: Mohammadi, along with Rafiullah Karimi and Shams Amani, is arrested by the Taliban.
Status: Unknown
Name: Rafiullah Karimi
Gender: Male
Detained: March 16, 2022
Job: Senior media manager, One TV
Accusation: Karimi, along with Sayyaf Mohammadi and Shams Amani, is arrested by the Taliban.
Status: Unknown
Name: Shams Amani
Gender: Male
Detained: March 16, 2022
Job: Senior media manager, TOLONews
Accusation: Amani, along with Sayyaf Mohammadi and Rafiullah Karimi, is arrested by the Taliban.
Status: Unknown
Name: Khaplwak Safi
Gender: Male
Detained: March 17, 2022
Job: Journalist, TOLONews
Accusation: Safi is arrested by Taliban militants under unspecified charges.
Status: Unknown
Name: Atal Khan Stanekzai
Gender: Male
Detained: March 17, 2022
Job: Journalist, Hamishe Bahar TV
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban in Nangarhar for unspecified charges.
Status: Unknown
Name: Atal Khan Stanekzai
Gender: Male
Detained: March 17, 2022
Job: Journalist, Hamishe Bahar TV
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban in Nangarhar for unspecified charges.
Status: Unknown
Name: Bismillah Watandust
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Head journalist, Sada-e Mellat Radio
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban with media workers Farid Ali Zai, Mahmoud Mehraban, Aghashir Minar, Rahimullah Mehraban, Samiullah Vahdat in Kandahar.
Status: Unknown
Name: Farid Ali Zai
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Journalist, Sada-e Mellat Radio
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban with media workers Bismillah Watandust, Mahmoud Mehraban, Aghashir Minar, Rahimullah Mehraban, Samiullah Vahdat in Kandahar.
Status: Unknown
Name: Mahmoud Mehraban
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Journalist, Sada-e Mellat Radio
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban with media workers Bismillah Watandust, Farid Ali Zai, Aghashir Minar, Rahimullah Mehraban, Samiullah Vahdat in Kandahar.
Status: Unknown
Name: Aghashir Minar
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Journalist, Sada-e Mellat Radio
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban with media workers Bismillah Watandust, Farid Ali Zai, Mahmoud Mehraban, Rahimullah Mehraban, Samiullah Vahdat in Kandahar.
Status: Unknown
Name: Rahimullah Mehraban
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Journalist, Sada-e Mellat Radio
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban with media workers Bismillah Watandust, Farid Ali Zai, Mahmoud Mehraban, Aghashir Minar, Samiullah Vahdat in Kandahar.
Status: Unknown
Name: Samiullah Vahda
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Journalist, Sada-e Mellat Radio
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban with media workers Bismillah Watandust, Farid Ali Zai, Mahmoud Mehraban, Aghashir Minar, Rahimullah Mehraban in Kandahar.
Status: Unknown
Name: Sarwar Hashemi
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Reporter, Radio Salam Watandar
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban in Kabul for unspecified charges.
Status: Unknown
Name: Faridullah Mati
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Reporter
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban in Urozgan for unspecified charges.
Status: Unknown
Name: Mirwais Atel
Gender: Male
Detained: March 26, 2022
Job: Reporter, Radio Zama
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban in Kandahar for unspecified charges.
Status: Unknown
Name: Gol Ahmad Khosrow
Gender: Male
Detained: April 6, 2022
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban, with Ghulam Rabbani, in Ghor province on unspecified charges.
Status: Unknown
Name: Ghulam Rabbani
Gender: Male
Detained: April 6, 2022
Job: Journalist
Accusation: Arrested by the Taliban, with Gol Ahmad Khosrow, in Ghor province on unspecified charges.
Status: Unknown