Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have detained two journalists from leading private broadcaster TOLOnews, with media rights groups calling for their immediate release. TOLOnews confirmed on Sunday that reporters Imran Danish and Mansoor Niazi had been held in Kabul since the previous Thursday, with no charges disclosed.

Why were the TOLOnews journalists detained by the Taliban?

Taliban authorities have not provided official reasons for the arrests. The information and culture ministry confirmed the detentions on Tuesday, stating the case is under investigation and that no court ruling has been issued. Ministry spokesman Khobaib Ghofran declined to specify the grounds for their arrest.

What have press freedom groups said about the arrests?

The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Tuesday for the Taliban to release the detained journalists immediately and unconditionally, warning that the press must be allowed to operate without interference.

The Afghanistan Media Support Organization, a local watchdog, said it had deep concerns over the arrests and criticized the absence of any precise information about the reasons for the detentions or the journalists’ whereabouts. The group warned that even media organizations attempting to adapt to the current environment remain vulnerable to arbitrary arrests.

“The arrest of Mr. Danish and Mr. Niazi demonstrates that there are no guarantees for the safety of journalists and media outlets,” the organization said.

How many journalists are currently detained in Afghanistan?

Six other journalists are currently held by Taliban authorities, according to the Afghanistan Media Support Organization. The watchdog called for the release of all eight detained journalists, including Danish and Niazi, citing the absence of clearly defined charges against any of them.

Afghanistan ranks 175 out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has heavily restricted independent media, issuing more than 20 directives governing content and forcing hundreds of journalists into exile.