Afghanistan Women’s Courage Movement Backs Campaign for Release of Detained Journalists

KABUL (Afghan Verified) — The Afghanistan Women’s Courage Movement for Justice has issued a statement supporting a campaign for the release of detained journalists, including Shakib Nazari, Abuzar Sarem, Hamid Farhadi and Bashir Hatef.

The movement expressed concern over the conditions of the detained journalists and urged an end to arrests and pressure on media workers. It stated that journalism is a legitimate profession and called for protection of media freedoms.

The group specifically appealed to the United Nations and global human rights bodies to take urgent action for the unconditional release of the journalists.

Exiled Afghan journalists have launched the campaign demanding the immediate and unconditional release of those detained.

The statement comes amid ongoing restrictions on press freedom in Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in 2021. Authorities have imposed detentions, censorship and limits on independent media operations.

Rights groups have reported that detained journalists have been sentenced to prison terms over alleged links to foreign or independent media outlets. They have raised concerns about a lack of due process in these cases.