KABUL (SW) – After the request for the release of civil activists by the disbanded Human Rights Commission, Bilal Karimi, one of the deputy spokespersons of the Islamic Emirate, says that anyone who disrupts national security will be interrogated.
Mr. Karimi told Salam Watandar: “There is a system in the country that should regulate the issues of the whole country. The national security of the country must be well maintained. The system has a responsibility to be aware of such issues. In the guise of a journalist or civil activist or any other person, if anyone makes movements against such issues, the system has the responsibility to interrogate in order to maintain the national security of the country. The Islamic Emirate does not detain anyone in the name of being a journalist and does not do any negative activities against the people.”
In continuation of the global demands for the release of civil activists, the dissolved HRC, by issuing a statement, demanded the immediate release of the civil activists from the detention center. “The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, while welcoming the Amnesty International report, asks national and international institutions to pay serious attention to the orders resulting from this report. The Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan requests the Islamic Emirate to release the people it detained for civil, cultural and enlightening activities as soon as possible and without any delay.”
In the past 19 months, in addition to limiting the space for civil activities, the space for journalistic work has also been limited and a number of journalists have been arrested and imprisoned.
Zarif Karimi, head of the NAI – supporting independent media organisation, said: “The situation of the media and journalists has become a serious concern in Afghanistan for some time now, and four journalists are currently in the custody of the Islamic Emirate. The government considers the issue of their arrest personal. Currently, Khairullah Barhar in Khost, Morteza Behbodhi in Kabul, Qadratullah Nouri in Parwan and Sobhanullah Sobhani are detained in Takhar. We request the authorities to take serious measures to release the journalists.”
On the other hand, Seyyed Shafiqullah Sadat, professor of the university, says that the Islamic Emirate’s moves are against international norms. “Islamic Emirate opposes international norms, especially human rights, and considers civil society to be ‘Western’ and says that these common in western countries only, we don’t have anything in Islamic countries. Any position taken by the civil society and civil activists is against the policy of the Islamic Emirate.”
It should be mentioned that in the past month, the intelligence forces of the Islamic Emirate have arrested some civil and educational activists on the charge of arbitrary activities.
In a high-profile incident, Matiullah Wesa, a prominent education activist was arrested last week.
ENDS
