The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) and the Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) have condemned the Taliban’s forced confession of Mehdi Ansari, a reporter for “Afghan News Agency,” in separate statements.
These organizations, in their statements on Thursday, October 2, said that the forced confession of this journalist in Taliban custody, under psychological and physical pressure, constitutes a violation of journalists’ rights.
AFJC added that this action is part of the Taliban’s ongoing campaign to suppress the media and journalists.
The Afghanistan Media Support Organization also expressed concern over Ansari’s health condition and called for his immediate release.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center described Ansari’s trial as unjust, stressing that the Taliban sentences journalists to prison without the presence of a defense lawyer.
On October 5, 2024, Ansari was arrested in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul on charges of collaborating with exiled media outlets.
Last year, the Taliban sentenced him to one and a half years in prison.
Recently, the Taliban intelligence services released a video of his forced confession.
Sources close to Ansari say his physical and mental condition in Taliban custody is not good.
You can read the Persian version of this news here:
نهادهای حامی خبرنگاران و رسانهها اعتراف اجباری یک خبرنگار توسط طالبان را محکوم کردند
