Amnesty International has urged the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Mahdi Ansari

5 Feb 2025
1 Minutes
Amnesty International has urged the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Mahdi Ansari

Amnesty International said The Taliban have arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned journalist Mahdi Ansari since 5 October 2024 solely for peacefully exercising his human rights. He has been denied fair trial, access to a lawyer and regular family visit.

The statement Amnesty International on Tuesday, February 4,2025 said, Mahdi Ansari, 27, is a journalist who was working with Afghan News Agency. On 5 October 2024, he was arrested by members of the Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence District 40 near his office. He has been sentenced to one and a half year’s imprisonment.

Amnesty International statement added, during his initial trial, on 1 January 2025, in absence of his family and defence lawyer, the court accused him of spreading propaganda against the Taliban de facto authorities due to his journalistic reports and Facebook posts. While in detention, Mahdi Ansari has faced ill-treatment, including solitary confinement, his mental health has deteriorated, and he has been denied regular family visits. His family was able to meet him after one month of his arbitrary detention and for five minutes only.

Amnesty International call he must be immediately and unconditionally released as he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.