Taliban blocks press conference by Afghanistan Journalists Federation

On Wednesday, around 60 armed members of the Taliban-controlled Kabul police and the Directorate General of Intelligence, the Taliban Intelligence Agency, blocked a press conference planned by the Federation of Afghan journalists in the Capital District 4, according to news reports, a report by The Local Press Freedom Group Hub Free, and Sayed Ali Asghar Akbarzadeh, a member of the Federation leadership committee, who spoke with CPJ in a telephone interview.

The federation of Afghan journalists, collectively consist of 13 press freedom and media groups, has scheduled conferences on 11 representatives at the Head Office in Kabul to discuss the status of the media under the Taliban, according to Akbarzadeh.

Before the conference could begin, dozens of gunmen entered the house where the conference was held, identifying themselves as members of the police and GDI, and initially said they were there to ensure security for the conference.

One of gunmen then questioned the participants in their motives for a press conference, and threatened retaliation if such an event was held without Taliban permission, said Akbarzadeh.

Another of the man, who did not give his name or position, then ordered the conference to be canceled, according to a journalist who was at the scene and talked to CPJ in anonymous condition, quoting fear of retaliation. The journalist said they believed that the man was a GDI member.

“The Taliban authorities need to ensure that police and intelligence officers do not interfere with the operation of the media and freedom of the press,” said Steven Butler, the CPJ Asia Program Coordinator, in Washington, DC “Afghan media industry shrinkage which was tragedy for the country. The Taliban must immediately take action to reverse this trend. “

Brief police agents and intelligence arrested three journalists planning to close the conference, according to a free speech hub, which identified the reporters as Mas Mandal Lutfi, Fardin Atiaim, and Zarif Karimi. CPJ cannot immediately determine the journalist affiliate outlet.

Police agents and GDI briefly held three journalists in GDI vehicles at the scene, and then released it at no cost, according to a free speech hub.

Ahmadullah Wasiq, a spokesman for the Deputy Taliban in Afghanistan, did not respond to CPJ requests for comments sent through the messaging application.