On July 25, 2025, the online portal "Daricha," affiliated with the de facto Ministry of Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, published a video on the X platform featuring a purported “confession” from Director of Pixel Production Nawid Ahmad Asghari.
July 29, 2025
Kabul— The Afghanistan Journalists Cneter(AFJC) is alarmed by the recent detention of at least seven journalists and media activists across Kabul and other provinces, marking a significant escalation in media repression in Afghanistan. De facto authorities have confiscated work equipment and tools, further intimidating the independent press.
AFJC Sources in Kabul who requested anonymity for safety reasons, report that these arrests were carried out jointly by the de facto morality police from the Ministry of Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice and members of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI). On July 23, a journalist and two media activists were detained on charges related to “conducting mixed-gender training courses” and “promoting immorality,” with their office equipment seized. They are believed to be held in an unknown GDI detention facility.
Additionally, on July 22, an individual was detained in the Karte-e-3 area of Kabul by GDI and morality police, accused of designing and maintaining news websites for exile media outlets. A local journalist confirmed the person’s transfer to a GDI detention center.
Another journalist working for a private outlet was detained in a province on July 7 allegedly for reporting without prior approval from provincial and propaganda against the Taliban authorities. The journalist was released after two days following assurances from local trustees, but the incident highlights ongoing restrictions on media freedom.
The identities of these five detainees remain undisclosed due to security concerns.
On July 15, authorities raided the offices of "Pixel," a media production company, detaining its chief executive, Nawid Ahmad Asghari, and deputy, Motashaq Ahmad Halimi. Equipment including cameras, computers, and hard drives was confiscated.
Furthermore, on July 25, the online portal "Daricha," affiliated with the de facto Ministry of Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, published a video on the X platform featuring a purported “confession” from Asghari. The circumstances of this recording are unclear. In the video, Asghari alleges receiving financial support from various organizations and claims cooperation ith the Darya app— a streaming service providing entertainment in Persian/Dari and Pashto— and Faza TV, an Afghan channel operating from abroad. He states that his company employs several staff members and is involved in dubbing series and monitoring media advertisements.
AFJC condemns these detentions and urges the de facto authorities to promptly and unconditionally release all detained journalists and media workers, and to restore their right to operate freely without fear, censorship, or intimidation. According to AFJC’s Afghanistan Press Freedom Tracker, the total number of detained journalists and media workers now stands at 15. AFJC calls for an urgent end to these repressive measures and for the safeguarding of press freedom in Afghanistan.