Afghanistan: Release Journalist Convicted Of Propaganda

Mahdi Ansari is a 27-year-old journalist who had been working with Afghan News Agency at the time of arrest. Previously, he had worked with various media channels such as Panjara Daily, Hasht-e Sobh and Jawan TV. For the past three years, his reporting covered ongoing developments and restrictions imposed by Taliban de facto authorities, published through his work and also through his personal Facebook and YouTube channel, amidst the Taliban's widespread restrictions and surveillance of journalists and media workers. Notably, Mahdi Ansari worked on a sensitive report published by AFKA on the first anniversary of a deadly suicide attack on Kabul's Shia minority in 2023. A year later, he commemorated the day with a Facebook post.

For the first two days of his detention, his family were unaware of his whereabout. It was only after contacting the local police station that his arrest by the GDI was confirmed. The GDI initially denied his arrest and knowing of his whereabout but eventually announced that he was under their interrogation.

Reporters Without Borders issued a statement condemning his arbitrary arrest, calling for his immediate release and for the Taliban to end its persecution of journalists. The International Federation of Journalists and the Afghanistan Independent Journalists’ Union have also demanded Mahdi Ansari’s release. The Afghanistan Journalists’ Support Organization has called Mahdi Ansari’s arrest unlawful and in violation of freedom of expression. The Afghanistan Journalists Center has condemned Mahdi Ansari’s arbitrary arrest and called for his unconditional release.