KABUL (SW) – The Free Speech Hub has expressed concerns over the continued pressure on the media, threats, arrests and torture of journalists by the Islamic Emirate forces.
In a statement on Wednesday, the FSH said that these actions violate the law on access to information and the media law introduced by the government.
The Islamic Emirate forces detained and tortured two journalists in the last three days, the Hub said. Ariana News TV correspondent Moheb Jalili and Rah-e Farda TV correspondent Alireza Shahir were arrested and tortured during duty.
The statement said that since the Islamic Emirate took control of Afghanistan, media has come under severe pressure and threats. According to the statement, more than 80 journalists and media workers have been detained and tortured during this period. At least 6,400 journalists and media workers lost jobs and about 230 media outlets have been shut down.
The FSH emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has not yet responded to any of these incidents and that there has been no change in its treatment of the media.
“The Free Speech Hub considers any pressure, threat, detention, and torture of journalists contrary to human values, and calls on the Islamic Emirate to comply with the Law on Access to Information, the Law on Mass Media, and the International Covenant on Public and Private Media. The right of the Afghan people to freedom of expression should not be violated and the principle of freedom of expression should be guaranteed.”
It has also called on international media organizations, the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan and the European Union to remember the media and journalists in Afghanistan and to put pressure on the Islamic Emirate to promote freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.
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