Independent TV channel Tolonews confirmed on Friday that the Taliban had arrested one of Afghanistan’s most famous TV presenters, over what appeared to be his publication that the authorities had banned the broadcast of foreign dramas.
The main independent Afghan network said in a statement that broadcaster Bahram Aman was arrested last night (17) at Tolonews’ headquarters, along with media director Khpalwak Sabai and legal advisor Nafie Khalij.
The channel added that the latter two were quickly released.
The company stated that “the three were arrested for disclosing information that the authorities had prevented television stations from broadcasting foreign drama series.”
A member of Aman’s family, who asked not to be named, told AFP he was “worried” because the Taliban had “threatened” the journalist before.
Last November, the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice banned television series depicting women, except in cases promoting Islamic themes.
This rule has already been implemented in various ways, and it now appears that the Taliban want to enforce it more rigorously, according to Tolonews.
The news of the arrest of the three men sparked a swift response from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
On Twitter, the United Nations said, “We are calling for the release of all detainees by armed men and an end to intimidation and threats against journalists and independent media.”
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