The Kabul Tribune (KT)— Afghan journalist Mohammad Arif Hijran has been released from Taliban custody after nearly two years in prison, Afghanistan International reported, citing sources familiar with the case.
Hijran was released Friday, Aug. 21, according to
Afghanistan International. A Taliban military court had sentenced him and another
journalist, Ahmad Kamran, to 10 years in prison.
Taliban authorities arrested Hijran and Kamran on July 6,
2024, in Khair Khana, Kabul. The Taliban military court sentenced both
journalists to 10 years in prison on Sept. 17, 2024.
According to Afghanistan International, the Taliban court
accused Hijran of photographing Taliban checkpoints and forces and sending the
images to a media outlet outside Afghanistan.
Hijran was a member of the Afghanistan Journalists
Federation and served as head of the Haftkhan weekly newspaper. He had also
worked with Panjara weekly and several other Afghan media organizations.
Media rights and journalist-support organizations had
condemned the arrests and convictions and called for the journalists’ release.
The circumstances surrounding Hijran’s release, including
whether any conditions were attached to it, were not immediately clear.
The Taliban have imposed broad restrictions on media
organizations and journalists since returning to power in August 2021. Rights
groups have repeatedly raised concerns about arrests, intimidation and
restrictions on journalists working in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan International, citing its sources, reported the
release but did not provide further details about the current status of Kamran.
