On October 7, the manager of the independent broadcaster Radio Nasim Sultan Ali Javadi, and two reporters, Saifullah Rezaei and Mojtaba Qasemi, were arrested by members of the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) from Jawadi’s home in the city of Nili in central Daikundi Province. Their current location is unknown.

This was the second time in 10 days that these journalists were arrested by the Taliban. On September 27, GDI raided and forcefully sealed Nasim Radio, arresting the director and two reporters while seizing their electronic equipment and personal belongings. The two journalists were held by GDI members for five hours, before being released without their mobile phones. The radio station has been shuttered for more than 10 days, and it still awaits approval to resume operations.

According to the AIJU, documents obtained from these journalists reveal that they may have disseminated a range of information concerning provincial officials and various non-media organizations. The AIJU raised this matter during a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Publications from the Ministry of Information and Culture, where they called for the release of the detained individuals. Moulavi Mohajer Farahi, the Deputy Minister of Publications, assured that he would work in collaboration with Daikundi authorities to facilitate the release of Radio Nasim's employees.

Since August 2021, the suppression of Afghan media has intensified under the Taliban's takeover of Kabul, and the media environment in Afghanistan has become increasingly restricted and dangerous for journalists. In August, independent Kandahar broadcaster Radio Hamisha Bahar was shuttered after hosting a mixed-gender training course.

The AIJU said, “We want the authorities of the Islamic Emirate to follow up on problems of the media and journalists through the Media Violations Commission, otherwise such measures will further weaken the media, shut down most of the media, and lose the jobs of a number of other journalists, and the people of real information is denied.”

The IFJ said,“The Taliban’s campaign of arrests against journalists has been a distinct danger to journalists and freedom of expression since their ascension to power. The media must be free to operate without fear of reprisal, especially in such opaque circumstances. The IFJ urges the Taliban to respect press freedom, and to release all journalists still in its custody.”