UN demands answers after Taliban detain Afghan journalists

Friday 15 May 2026 - 07:51

By: Dakir Madiha

UN demands answers after Taliban detain Afghan journalists

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has voiced strong concern over the detention of at least three Afghan journalists by Taliban authorities, urging officials to clarify the legal basis for the arrests and guarantee due process protections for the detainees. The arrests add to mounting international concern over the erosion of press freedom in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The detained journalists include Mansoor Niazi and Imran Danish from TOLOnews, along with Ahmad Jawed Niazi, director of the Kabul based Paigard news agency. Mansoor Niazi worked as a news anchor and political program host, while Danish served as a presenter and political editor at the network. Afghan media advocacy groups reported that Taliban intelligence agents arrested the journalists during separate operations in Kabul earlier this month.

According to reports from press freedom organizations, Mansoor Niazi was detained on May 7 in Kabul’s Karte Char district, while Imran Danish was arrested days later near TOLOnews headquarters in the Wazir Akbar Khan area. Ahmad Jawed Niazi was reportedly taken into custody at his office in Kabul on May 6. Taliban authorities later confirmed the detention of the two TOLOnews journalists but did not disclose specific charges, stating only that the cases remained under investigation.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said Taliban agents also searched the offices of TOLOnews and its parent company, Moby Group. The organization called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained reporters. The United Nations mission separately expressed concern over reports of violence against journalists and the seizure of property during security raids carried out by Taliban forces.

International media rights organizations say the latest detentions reflect a broader crackdown on independent journalism across Afghanistan. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, hundreds of media outlets have shut down while thousands of journalists have fled the country or left the profession under growing political pressure and security threats. Advocacy groups warn that restrictions on reporting, censorship measures and arbitrary arrests have severely weakened the country’s media landscape.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center demanded accountability over the arrests and called on Taliban authorities to respect international human rights standards. The United Nations mission urged Afghanistan’s de facto rulers to ensure transparent legal procedures and uphold protections for journalists operating inside the country amid escalating concerns about freedom of expression.