MONITORING (SW) – Concerned about the condition of journalists, officials of the Afghanistan Independent Media Support Organization (NAI) say that Morteza Behbodi, a journalist who obtained French citizenship and returned to Afghanistan, has been missing since January 5 this year.
Zarif Karimi, head of NAI, told Salam Watandar that Behbodi was the only one journalist who is said to have returned from France and is now in Afghanistan, and no one knows about his whereabouts. “It is said that the officials of the Islamic Emirate took him away, but the security institutions of the Islamic Emirate claim ignorance, and it is not known whether the Islamic Emirate imprisoned him or it is another matter.”
He added that he has informed the security institutions of the Islamic Emirate about this issue, but the security agencies have declared ignorance.
Meanwhile, the officials of the Ministry of Information and Culture say that there are no journalists imprisoned in the prisons of the Islamic Emirate and that the ministry is trying to provide a suitable environment for journalists.
Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, Deputy Minister of Media Affairs at the Ministry of Information and Culture, told Salam Watandar: “So far, no journalist is imprisoned in Afghanistan, and the Islamic Emirate is trying to provide a suitable environment for journalists by implementing different programs.”
It should be mentioned that according to the recent report of the Afghan Journalists Center, during 2022, at least 119 journalists and media workers have been arrested in the country.
ENDS
